■r.f&rit*- 


IT  is  always  painful  to  expose  the  transactions  of  domestic  life  be- 
fore the  public  eye  ; and  the  honorable  mind  recoils  with  inex- 
pressible reluctance  from  the  task,  when  it  involves  the  obtrusion 
of  scenes  of  a delicate  and  distressing  character.  But  there  are 
occasions  when  self-respect — when  self-preservation — demands  a 
sacrifice  of  these  natural  feelings  ; and  when  a regard  for  others, 
near  and  dear,  whose  good  name  and  happiness  are  inseparably 
connected  with  our  own,  requires  a performance  of  the  task,  as  a 
sacred,  though  painful  duty.  Silence  under  wrong  and  calumny 
is  often  a virtue ; but  it  ceases  to  be  so,  when  it  permits  injury  to 
reputation  and  to  the  feelings  of  relatives  and  friends. 

In  the  late  proceedings  for  a divorce  instituted  by  Mrs.  Schott 
at  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  it  was 
the  advice  of  counsel  (and  the  advice  harmonised  with  my  own 
wishes)  that  I should  make  no  defence,  but  suffer  the  divorce  to 
be  decreed  by  default.  The  motives  were — delicacy  and  policy. 
I could  not  appear  jin  a defensive  position  without  exposing 
scenes,  which,  though  involving  not  myself,  but  others,  I desired, 
as  I still  desire,  to  preserve  under  the  veil  of  secrecy ; and  I was 
instructed  by  counsel,  that  any  defence  I should  make  would  ope- 
rate virtually  as  opposition  to  the  application  for  divorce,  and 
that  it  was  scarcely  probable  that  the  divorce,  which  I was  most 
anxious,  for  my  own  sake,  should  be  obtained,  could  be  granted, 
if  opposed  by  me.  I did  not  appear,  to  oppose  it ; and  the  di- 
vorce was  granted.  The  grant  of  the  divorce,  which  was,  of  all 
things  on  earth,  by  me  most  anxiously  and  devoutly  wished  for, 
I then  regarded,  and  now  regard,  as  the  greatest  blessing  which 
could  be  bestowed  on  me  by  human  agency.  I would,  at  any 
moment,  have  infinitely  preferred  the  perilling  of  my  own  life  to 


1 


doing  any  act  which  could  possibly  endanger  the  grant  of  that, 
without  which  existence  would  have  been  a curse.  My  non- 
appearance  in  court  has  been,  undoubtedly,  in  some  quarters,  con- 
strued into  a tacit  admission  of  the  truth  of  the  charges  against 
me,  upon  which  the  application  for  divorce  was  founded.  But 
now  that  the  divorce  has  been  obtained,  I am  free  to  perform  the 
duty,  however  reluctantly,  of  replying  to  these  charges,  and  of 
narrating,  in  brief  outline,  the  circumstances  which  led  to  the 
application,  as  well  as  those  connected  with  my  meeting  with 
Mr.  Pierce  Butler. 

Early  in  March  last,  I had  occasion  to  proceed  to  New  York 
in  company  with  Mr.  Pierce  Butler,  upon  business  which  re- 
quired our  personal  attention  in  that  city.  Mrs.  Schott  desired  me 
to  take  her  with  me,  that  she  might  go  to  the  opera.  I agreed 
to  do  so  ; and  to  make  the  jaunt  more  agreeable  to  her,  I invited 
her  two  sisters,  married  ladies,  to  join  the  party  ; and  one  of  them 
accepted  the  invitation,  and  went  with  us.  Mr.  Pierce  Butler, 
at  that  time,  I regarded  as  my  friend,  and  had  entire  confidence  in 
him.  Some  circumstances  of  conduct,  indeed,  on  his  part  and 
on  that  of  Mrs.  S.  had  previously  occurred,  to  which  I might 
have  taken,  and,  to  a certain  extent,  did  take  exception  ; but  as  I 
did  not  conceive  Mr.  B.  capable  of  any  base  intentions,  or  Mrs. 
S.  of  any  conduct  unbecoming  a lady  and  a wife,  I easily  brought 
myself  to  view  them  as  thoughtless  imprudences,  and  therefore 
passed  them  over, — though  not  without  remonstrating  with  Mrs. 
S.  on  the  subject.  All  former  circumstances,  however,  had  been 
forgotten  ; and  I proceeded  to  New  York  without  suspicion. 
Here  the  refusal  of  Mrs.  S.,  while  in  a public  hotel,  to  occupy  the 
same  room  with  me,  and  her  insisting,  contrary  to  my  wishes 
and  in  spite  of  my  remonstrances,  upon  having  a separate  cham- 
ber,— to  which  she  removed  her  baggage,  without  my  knowledge, 
the  morning  after  our  arrival, — which  chamber  was  apart  from 
her  sister’s  and  my  own,-— were  the  first  circumstances  that  created 
a painful  impression  on  my  mind  ; but  it  was  on  the  night  of  Sa- 


turday,  the  9th,  at  midnight,  that  a circumstance  occurred,  to 
which  I have  no  desire  to  give  publicity,  nor  to  say  one  word 
more  of  it,  than  that  it  was  of  a character  to  justify — in  fact,  to 
render  imperatively  necessary, — all  the  steps  which  I took  in  con- 
sequence of  it.  What  was  sufficiently  painful  in  the  circumstance, 
became  still  more  so  from  its  happening  in  a public  hotel,  where 
I could  not  take  such  steps  as  I desired  to  take,  without  giving  a 
scandalous  notoriety  to  the  affair,  and  involving — or  rather  con- 
necting— in  the  disgrace  of  it,  a member  of  the  party  who  had  no 
implication  in  it,  and  who  was  a lady  under  my  protection  as  my 
guest.  These  considerations,  and  her  entreaties  and  tears,  not 
only  prevented  my  taking  any  violent  steps,  and  induced  me  to 
delay  seeking  satisfaction  for  the  wrong  I had  received,  until  I 
could  return  to  Philadelphia ; but  were  the  cause  of  my  allowing 
Mr.  Butler  to  keep  up  the  appearance  of  still  being  a member  of 
the  party,  so  long  as  we  continued  at  the  hotel.  This  was,  un- 
doubtedly, a weakness  on  my  part ; and  Mr.  B.,  with  the  knavish 
craft  natural  to  his  character,  has  taken  advantage  of  it,  in  his  let- 
ter accepting  my  challenge,  as  an  argument  to  prove  that  he  could 
not  have  done  me  any  wrong,  or  that  I did  not  then  think  it  one. 
My  letter  to  Mr.  Otis,  of  11th  of  April,  in  answer  to  this,  will, 
perhaps,  satisfactorily  explain  my  conduct.  But  I must  here 
again  say,  that  I was  in  a public  hotel  with  my  party,  where  the 
slightest  act, — and  certainly  the  expulsion  of  Mr.  B.  from  the 
party, — would  have  produced  a shameful  explosion  ; that  I was 
myself  desirous  to  avoid  this  ; and  that  the  lady  alluded  to,  im- 
plored me,  out  of  regard  to  her  and  our  respective  families, — and 
wrung  from  me  a promise  not  to  expose  them  in  New  York, — to 
do  nothing,  and  to  submit  to  Mr.  B’s  remaining,  in  appearance,  a 
member  of  the  party,  as  if  nothing  had  happened,  until  we  left 
New  York.  Nobody  knows  better  than  Mr.  B.  the  true  state  of 
the  case, — that  I distinctly  told  him  on  Sunday,  the  day  after  the 
occurrence,  that  “ nothing  but  my  promise  to  the  lady  in  ques- 
tion, protected  him  from  my  just  indignation  while  in  New 

^ ^.1)0 


4 


York.’  And  that  no  doubt  should  remain  as  to  to  the  course  I 
intended  to  pursue,  I wrote  and  caused  to  be  delivered  to  him, 
on  Monday,  the  11th,  a note,  of  which  the  following  is  a copy — 
formally  expressing  the  intention,  on  paper,  which  I had  before 
distinctly  declared  to  him  in  words  : 

Sir, 

I scarcely  deem  it  necessary  to  say  to  you,  that,  on  our  return 
to  Philadelphia,  all  intercourse  between  us  must  cease,  and  that 
your  visits  to  my  family  must  be  discontinued. 

I trust  that  the  time  may  yet  come  when  I shall  be  able,  with- 
out compromising  others,  to  vindicate  my  own  honor. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

(Signed)  JAMES  SCHOTT,  Jr. 

Pierce  Butler,  Esq.  Astor  House , March  11,  1844. 

That,  in  this  period  of  inaction  and  apparent  calm,  and  of 
attempted  concealment  of  a grievous  wrong,  there  was  no  want 
of  those  feelings  natural  to  a man  on  such  an  occasion,  will  be 
apparent  from  the  following  extract  of  a letter  to  my  brother, 
G.  Bryan  Schott,  from  H.  Toland,  Jr.  Esq.,  my  friend  and  business 
correspondent  in  New  York,  who  saw  me  the  day  I left  that  city, 
but  who  was  entirely  ignorant  of  what  had  happened. 

New  York , 9th  Aprils  1844. 

Dear  Sir  : — I have  known  your  brother  so  intimately,  that  I 
needed  no  request  to  suspend  my  opinion  about  his  present  mis- 
fortunes. When  he  came  to  see  me  on  the  day  he  left  for  Phila- 
delphia, I was  shocked  and  distressed  at  the  change  in  his  manner 
and  appearance,  though  he  said  nothing  to  me,  (and  I am  at  this 
time  ignorant  of  the  true  state  of  the  case,)  yet  I was  satisfied  that 
something  terrible  must  have  occurred. 

Yours  faithfully, 

(Signed)  H.  TOLAND,  Jr. 

G.  Bryan  Schott,  Esq.,  Philadelphia . 


5 


Upon  the  same  day,  I returned  to  Philadelphia,  with  Mrs.  S. 
and  the  lady,  her  companion  ; and  on  Wednesday,  the  13th,  1 
addressed  Mrs.  S.  the  following  note,  which  will  perhaps  explain 
itself;  or,  at  all  events,  will  indicate  some  of  the  feelings  hy 
which  I was  agitated,  as  well  on  account  of  what  had  happened, 
as  of  the  frame  and  temper  of  mind  exhibited  by  Mrs.  S.  under 
circumstances  to  me  so  overpoweringly  afflictive : 

“ Having  weighed  every  adverse  consideration  that  could  influ- 
ence me  in  our  difficulties,  having  balanced  how  far  I ought  to 
protect  your  character  and  prevent  the  exposure  of  my  own 
degradation,  and  reflected  on  what  is  due  to  my  injured  feelings, 
and  the  satisfaction  my  wounded  honor  calls  for,  I have  decided 
that  the  breach  between  us  is  beyond  all  reparation.  A separa- 
tion, therefore,  is  inevitable,  and,  of  course,  my  injuries  must  be 
made  known  to  your  family,  if  not  laid  open  to  the  world.  Had 
you  made  a confession  of  your  guilt,  had  you  displayed  the  slight- 
est penitence  or  remorse,  had  you  admitted  what  I saw  with  my 
own  eyes,  I would  have  forgiven  you — not  that  anything  could 
restore  my  lost  affection  for  you ; but  I should  then  have  cherished 
some  hope  of  reclaiming  you.  But  after  the  effrontery  you  have 
shown,  I am  convinced  that  you  have  fallen  so  far  from  your 
original  purity  as  to  be  beyond  recovery  ; and  therefore,  you 
have  forfeited  all  claim  to  my  protection.  As  there  is  a just  God 
in  Heaven,  whatever  calamities  may  ensue,  whatever  blood  may 
be  shed,  it  rests  on  your  soul. 

(Signed)  JAMES  SCHOTT,  Jr.” 

Philadelphia , March  13,  1844. 

Three  days  afterwards,  I intercepted  a letter  written  by  Mrs. 
S*,  and  addressed  to  her  sister,  the  lady  who  had  been  with  us  at 
New  York.  The  following  is  a true  copy  of  a paragraph  which 
I extracted  from  it: 


i 


6 


u Perhaps  it  would  be  better  for  Mr.  B.  to  send  the 
letter  to-night, — BUT  I DO  NOT  ADVISE  YOU,  YOU 
CAN  BEST  JUDGE  : — he  appears  calm,  and  resolved  ; 
HE  IS  NOT  VIOLENT.  I ONLY  HOPE  IT  MAY  BE  SUICIDE 

HE  HAS  DETERMINED  ON  ; BUT  I THINK  A DUEL 

WILL  BE  THE  CON SEQUENCE. 99 

I need  not  comment  upon  this  paragraph — the  kind  of  spirit  it 
indicated — the  hope  it  expressed — nor  upon  the  effect  it  produced 
upon  me.  I might  have  hesitated — I had  hesitated — in  taking 
the  steps  which  1 felt  that  my  own  honor  required  ; because  with 
all  the  wrongs  I had  suffered,  I could  not  but  think  painfully  of  the 
consequences  these  steps  would  bring  upon  her.  This  intercepted 
letter  put  an  end  to  my  hesitation,  and  I waited  immediately  upon 
Mr.  Dallas,  as  legal  counsel;  and,  at  my  request,  he  that  night 
drew  up  the  following  articles  of  separation  : 

“ Circumstances  of  a peculiarly  painful  nature,  which  it  is  deem- 
ed best  not  to  recapitulate  here  or  to  permit  mention  of  any  where 
by  the  signers  of  this  paper  or  by  their  friends  ; but  which  im- 
press upon  the  minds  of  the  parties  the  necessity  of  early  and 
permanent  separation,  have  determined  Mr.  James  Schott,  Jr. 
and  his  wife  Ellen,  to  live  henceforward  apart  from  each  other  ; 
and  in  order  to  effect  this  in  a manner  as  little  distressing  to  the 
feelings  of  their  connexions  and  friends,  and  as  becoming  to  them- 
selves, as  possible,  they  adopt  and  reciprocally  engage  to  carry 
into  execution  the  following  course  of  action  : 

u First — Mrs.  Schott  is  to  leave  her  husband’s  house,  and  to  re- 
turn to  her  father’s  within  a period  of  two  months,*  taking  with 
her  all  her  wardrobe  and  other  personal  effects  procured  and 
intended  for  her  exclusive  use,  comfort  or  ornament. 


* In  the  original  articles  of  separation  Mrs.  Schott  was  to  have  left  my  house  and 
gone  to  her  father’s  immediately,  instead  of  at  the  expiration  of  two  months.  This 
modification  was  agreed  to  by  me,  to  save  Mrs.  Schott  from  exposure. 


7 


Second — Mr.  Schott  disclaims  now,  and  engages  to  disclaim 
at  any  time  in  more  form  if  required,  all  right  or  wish  to  take, 
have,  or  in  any  respect  interfere  with,  the  property  and  estate  of 
his  wife,  whether  the  same  has  heretofore  been  secured  to  her  by 
marriage  settlement,  or  has,  since  their  marriage,  or  shall  here- 
after, come  to  her  possession  or  right. 

“ Third — The  parties  are  henceforth  to  be  entire  strangers  to 
each  other;  and  should  unforseen  events  render  their  co-opera- 
tion in  matters  of  business  necessary  to  their  respective  interests, 
the  same  shall  be  effected  through  the  agency  of  others. 

“ Into  this  agreement  we  mutually  and  voluntarily 
enter  this  day  of  , 1844.” 

Having  proceeded  thus  far  in  describing  the  steps  which  I took 
in  regard  to  Mrs.  S.,  I now  think  it  necessary  to  disclose  those 
which  I instituted  in  relation  to  Mr.  Butler.  His  friends  have 
professed  to  think  it  very  strange  that  I should  suffer  so  long  a 
period  to  elapse  after  the  occurrence  at  New  York,  before  making 
a demand  upon  him  for  satisfaction,  other  than  that  contained  in 
my  letter  to  him  at  the  Astor  House  of  March  the  11th.  It  will 
be  seen  that  the  delay  arose,  first,  from  unforseen  difficulties 
which  I encountered  in  procuring  the  services  of  a friend  ; and 
next,  after  I had  procured  one,  from  the  course  of  conduct  which 
was  adopted  by  Gen.  McNeill,  my  official  adviser  in  the  business. 
Upon  Tuesday,  the  12th  of  March,  the  very  day  after  I had 
written  to  Mr.  Butler  the  note  already  inserted,  I wrote  to  my 
old  friend  Purser  McBlair,  U.  S.  N.,  at  Baltimore,  requesting  his 
friendly  assistance;  and  confidently  expected,  day  by  day,  to 
receive  a favorable  answer;  until,  on  the  19th  the  following 
reply  came  to  hand,  which  explains  his  delay  in  answering,  and 
his  inability  to  grant  my  request. 

U.  S.  Ship  Plymouth , 

Boston  Harbor,  March  18,  1844. 

My  dear  Schott, 

Your  letter  of  12th  inst.  reached  me  but  an  hour  or  two  ago . 


8 


How  much  I regret  you  had  not  known  where  to  find  me,  when 
you  wrote  ; for  then,  I could  have  left  for  a few  days,  and  would 
have  done  so  with  much  pleasure  to  serve  a friend.  Now  ?tis 
impossible.  Our  ship  is  under  sailing  orders.  We  leave  for 
the  Mediterranean  in  all  this  week.  We  may  not  go  till  Saturday, 
but  every  officer  is  compelled  to  be  aboard.  I make  no  doubt  you 
have  ere  this  obtained  the  services  of  another,  and  most  sincerely 
hope  matters  have  been  settled  to  your  satisfaction.  May  I ask 
what  is  the  difficulty  ? Write  me  by  return  mail : the  letter  will 
be  in  time. 

Most  sincerely  your  friend, 

(Signed)  T.  PARKIN  McBLAIR. 

Not  hearing  from  Purser  McBloir  as  soon  as  I expected,  and 
fearing  I should  be  disappointed  in  this  quarter,  I immediately 
sought  it  in  another,  as  appears  from  the  following  note  of  Mr. 
Goodwin  of  Baltimore,  in  reply  to  one  written  by  me: 

Baltimore,  March  20th , 1844,  10  A.  M. 
My  dear  young  Friend  : 

I have  this  moment  received  yours,  bearing  the  post  mark  of 
yesterday.  I most  seriously  sympathise  with  you  in  the  truly 
unfortunate  position  in  which  you  are  placed,  and  would  most 
cheerfully  repair  forthwith  to  your  city,  could  I see  how  I could 
in  any  degree — consistently  with  my  opinions,  formed  many 
years  ago,  and  confirmed  by  increased  years — serve  you  on  the 
subject  to  which  your  letter  refers.  I have  reached  that  period 
of  life  when  one  should,  if  ever,  reflect  seriously  on  every  step 
he  takes,  and  how  he  jostles  with  the  prejudices  and  vices  of  the 
age.  I can  scarcely  imagine  any  state  of  circumstances  that 
would  induce  me  to  take  the  field,  either  as  principal  or  second. 

“ There  is  a time  for  all  things.”  Public  opinion,  to  which  I bow, 
would  condemn  me,  and  my  conscience  would  reproach  me.  On 
the  first, — having  nothing  left  but  my  good  name — I am  depen- 


9 


dent  whilst  I remain  on  earth  ; on  the  last,  I must  look  when  I 
am  called  to  the  realms  above. 

I know  no  man  in  whom  I have  more  reliance  in  such  matters 
than  Gen.  W.  G.  McNeill,  who  may  probably  be  in  your  city;  if 
not,  he  is  either  at  New  York  or  Stonington.  Write  to  him  and 
say  that  it  is  at  my  suggestion. 

I omitted  to  say,  in  its  proper  place,  that  if  the  circumstances 
of  your  case  admitted  of  explanation  or  apology,  I would  come 
on  in  the  hope  of  effecting  a reconciliation  ; but  as  that  is  the 
only  way  in  which  I could  interfere,  you  will,  I am  sure,  my 
dear  James,  after  what  I have  said,  duly  appreciate  my  motives  in 
declining  to  yield  to  your  solicitations. 

I feel  deeply  interested  in  this  affair,  and  beg  you  will  keep 
me  apprised  of  its  progress  and  results. 

Yours  most  truly, 

(Signed)  L.  GOODWIN. 

James  Schott,  Jr.,  Esq., 

Philadelphia . 

I had  from  the  first — as  early  I think  as  the  day  after  my  arri- 
val from  New  York,  when  I wrote  to  Purser  McBlair — made 
application  to  my  friend,  Harrison  Grey  Otis,  Jr.,  Esq.,  of  Boston, 
for  his  services  in  case  I should  require  them,  in  an  affair  of  honor, 
the  cause  and  nature  of  which  I did  not  then  inform  him  of.  I did 
not  think  I could  so  justly  claim  this  aid  of  him,  with  whom  my 
acquaintance  was  not  of  so  long  standing,  as  of  the  twTo  old  and 
long  tried  friends  to  whom  I first  formally  applied.  I now,  being 
disappointed  in  these  two  quarters,  explained  the  circumstance  to 
him,  and  solicited  his  assistance  ; and  he  immediately,  in  the  most 
generous  manner,  acceded  to  my  request.  I then  applied  to  my 
friend  Dr.  George  McClellan,  desiring  to  engage  his  professional 
assistance;  which — after  learning  the  nature  of  the  occasion  for 
which  it  was  required — he  agreed  I should  have,  but  he  earnestly 
requested  me  to  accede  to  the  suggestion  made  by  Mr.  Goodwin,—* 


2 


10 


namely,  to  appeal  to  Gen.  McNeill,  a gentleman  whom  both  these 
friends  regarded,  at  that  time,  as  possessing  great  experience  in  such 
affairs, — for  advice  and  assistance.  Such  a recommendation  made, 
and  insisted  upon,  severally  by  two  such  gentleman  as  Mr.  Good- 
win and  Dr.  McClellan, -I  could  not  refuse  to  receive;  and  Mr. 
Otis  approving  of  it,  Gen.  McNeill  was  sent  for,  and  he  arrived  in 
Philadelphia  on  the  night  of  the  27th. 

The  first  act  of  Gen.  McNeill  was  to  express,  as  Dr.  McClellan 
had  done,  an  anxious  desire  to  hush  up  the  affair — an  affair  involv- 
ing my  own  honor,  the  reputation  of  Mrs.  S.,  and  the  feelings  of 
two  respectable  families  ; and  these  considerations  were  pressed 
upon  me  so  strongly,  that  I,  at  last,  expressed  my  willingness,  so 
far  as  Mrs.  S.  was  concerned,  to  make  any  sacrifices  that  would 
save  her  from  disgrace,  and  the  feelings  of  friends  from  laceration. 
But  I distinctly  declared,  that  I would  listen  to  no  accommoda- 
tion that  interfered  with  the  action  I meditated  with  regard  to 
Mr.  Butler;  and  that  the  farthest  I would  go  in  relation  to  Mrs. 
S.,  would  be  to  abandon  the  design  of  a formal  separation,  and 
to  permit  her  to  live  in  my  house,  separated  from  me  in  fact , but 
presenting  to  the  world  no  appearance  of  separation.  I was 
willing  to  put  myself  in  the  hands  of  my  friends,  and  to  be  ruled 
by  them,  to  this  extent, — but  no  farther.  Gen.  McNeill  then 
required  that  I should,  with  my  friend  Mr.  Otis,  proceed  into  the 
country,  to  avoid  arrest  and  avert  suspicion,  and  there  await  his 
orders.  I went  into  the  country  accordingly. 

It  will  be  observed,  that  I had  thus,  in  a manner,  agreed  to  Gen. 
McNeill’s  arranging  a nominal  reconciliation — a reconciliation 
in  appearance  merely, — with  Mrs.  S.  But,  with  that  spirit  of 
universal  philanthropy  which  generally  defeats  its  own  purposes, 
it  seems  that  Gen.  McNeill,  who  assumed  to  himself  a higher 
power  than  I delegated,  and  had  a plan  of  his  own,  had  formed 
ideas  of  a reconciliation  in  fact , and  that  not  with  Mrs.  S.  only, 
but  with  Mr.  Butler  also.  And  that  he  might  effect  this  benevo- 
lent purpose, — that  he  might  invite  concession  in  other  quarters, 


11 


by  making  some  little  concession  on  my  side, — he  commenced 
operations  by  addressing  the  following  letter  to  Dr.  McC.,  of 
which  I only  need  say,  first,  that  it  was  written  for  the  purpose 
of  being  shown  to  Mrs.  S.’s  friends  ; secondly,  that  it  was  written 
whilst  I was  in  the  country,  where  Gen.  McN.  himself  had  sent 
me  ; thirdly,  that  it  was  written  entirely  without  my  knowledge, 
and,  of  course,  without  my  concurrence  ; and,  fourthly,  that  the 
moment  I heard  of  it,  I protested  against  it, — or  rather  against 
those  statements  in  it,  in  which  Gen.  McN.  made  admissions  of 
such  an  unwarrantable  character. 

Gen.  McNeil’s  letter  was  as  follows : 

United  States  Hotel , Philadelphia , 

Saturday , noon , March  30/A,  1844. 

Dr.  Geo.  McClellan, 

Present, 

My  Dear  Sir  : — On  Wednesday  last,  I,  in  New  York,  received 
a letter  from  you  written  from  this  place,  of  date  the  Saturday 
night  Hi  o’clock,  addressed  to  me  at  Stonington,  Ct.,  informing 
me  of  an  interview  with  Mr.  James  Schott,  who  had  just  called 
on  you  for  your  professional  services  in  a contingency  that  might 
arise — because  of  impressions,  on  his  part,  of  a most  painful  and 
distressing  nature. 

The  condition  which  you  were  pleased  to  insist  on,  before  you 
would  consent  to  Mr.  S.’s  request,  was  that  / should  be  appealed 
to  for  counsel,  and  that  my  decision  should  be  final.  It  seems 
that  Mr.  S.  had  previously  written  to  an  honorable  “ friend”  for 
his  services  on  the  contemplated  field  of  action , and  also  to  a 
gentleman,  (like  ourselves  of  mature  years,)  the  relation  of  that 
friend ; and  that  the  latter  gentleman  had  also  done  me  the  honor 
to  name  me  as,  in  his  opinion,  a suitable  counsellor. 

I am  indebted  to  you  both  for  the  respect  thus  implied  for  my 
opinion  : — while  I need  hardly  add  that  my  immediate  resort  to 
this  city,  on  the  receipt  of  your  letter,  has  imposed  a responsibi- 


12 


lity  by  no  means  enviable — Yet,  in  the  same  spirit  in  which  I at 
once  obeyed  your  summons,  (the  sincere  desire  to  do  good,  and 
the  firm  determination  to  be  impartial  and  as  just  as  the  infirmity 
of  my  own  nature  would  permit,)  I will  now,  unhesitatingly,  as- 
sume the  responsibility,  however  onerous,  of  expressing  thus 
formally  my  convictions,  which  are  the  result  of  ample,  delibe- 
rate, and  anxious  reflection. 

Those  convictions  are — that  whatever  the  impressions  of  the 
respective  parties  may  be,  there  is  no  longer  any  tenable  ground 
for  Mr.  S.  to  assert  his  suspicions  ; and  therefore,  that  however 
confirmed  he  may  have  been,  under  the  influence  of  an  excited 
imagination,  he  is  bound  to  doubt  at  least,  if  not  fully  to  admit, 
that  a false  medium  for  the  time  distorted  his  usually  correct  and 
natural  vision. — I would  by  no  means  have  you  understand  that 
I,  for  one  moment,  doubt  the  sincere  convictions  under  which 
Mr.  S.  acted.  I ascribe  his  mistake  to  his  proper  sensitiveness, 
and  that  sensitiveness  was  proportionate  to  his  ardent  affection 
for  his  lady,  on  a proper  return  of  which  his  happiness  was 
dependent. 

He  felt  himself  aggrieved  in  the  tenderest  point:  yet  was  his 
dependence  for  happiness  at  home  such,  that  I know  he  would 
have  buried  in  oblivion  every  thing  but  the  recollection  of  the 
endearments  of  that  home — till,  unfortunately,  in  the  ebullition  of 
a naturally  wounded  and  exasperated  feeling  on  the  part  of  a vir- 
tuous and  injured  womaii,  expressions  are  indulged  in  (I  think 
not  proper)  which  leads  him  to  think  her  affections  are  estranged. 
He  himself  doubted  up  to  that  moment,  and  till  then  hoped . 
These  hopes  were  destroyed,  as  1 have  just  implied,  from  unfor- 
tunate and  improper  expressions — although  these  expressions 
naturally  resulted  from  the  deeply  wounded  feelings  of  a wife. 

I do  not,  therefore,  see  in  these  expressions  a barrier  to  the 
restoration  of  domestic  harmony  which  else  Mr.  S.  would  have 
sought,  as  he  certainly  then  desired. 


13 


It  then  clearly  follows,  that  if  such  a reconciliation  had  been 
effected,  there  would  therein  have  been  a tacit,  if  not  express  ad- 
mission, of  the  innocence  of  all  parties,  and  the  equal  injustice  to 
all  parties  (including  himself)  of  further  indulgence  in  unworthy 
suspicions. 

Nothing  since,  at  all  admissible,  has  transpired  to  place  the 
parties  (Mr.  S.  and  Mr.  B.)  in  a different  position  from  that  they 
would  have  occupied  in  the  event  of  what  is  most  desirable  and 
due  to  the  happiness  of  so  large  a circle — do  wit,  the  reconciliation 
alluded  to.  I think,  therefore,  that  Mr.  B.  has  no  account  to 
render  to  Mr.  S. — except  in  the  grateful  recollection  of  many, 
many  evidences  of  sincere  and  ardent  friendship  and  regard. 

It  is  proper,  I think,  that  I should  remind  you  of  the  volun- 
tarily proffered  asseveration  of  Mr.  B.  to  Mr.  S.,  on  the  oath  of 
a Christian  and  the  honor  of  a gentleman , of  the  total  and  ut- 
ter injustice  to  all  parties,  in  the  surmises  of  Mr.  S.  of  impropri- 
ety ; and  that  this  occurred  anterior  to  the  period  when — but  for 
the  circumstance  to  which  I have  alluded — the  “ restoration  of 
harmony”  might  readily  have  been  effected,  as  most  certainly 
it  was  desirable. 

It  is  equally  proper  and  incumbent  on  me  to  add,  (if  I may 
take  that  liberty,)  that  Mr.  Schott’s  course  throughout  the  whole 
of  this  painful  matter,  has  been  under  his  impressions,  and  is  be- 
yond reproach. 

Were  it  my  privilege  to  advise,  (as  would  be  that  of  a relation, 
a brother,)  my  efforts  would  be  unceasing  till  I had  succeeded  in 
restoring  domestic  peace,  in  the  hope  of  renewed  and  continued 
happiness  in  Mr.  Schott’s  own  home. — He  has  given  us  both 
much  reason,  abundant  reason  to  respect  and  honor  him. 

But  while  we  sympathise  deeply  with  any  one,  whether  under 
a delusion  or  not — it  is  not  my  province  on  this  occasion,  nor 
will  I consent  through  any  instrumentality  of  mine,  to  indulge 
the  excited  feelings  of  another  in  the  perpetration  of  an  act  which 


14 


is  not  justified  by  facts,  and  which,  on  the  calmest  deliberation, 
my  judgment  condemns. 

Much  thinking  and  future  talking,  my  friend,  I doubt  not  I 
could  have  saved  myself,  by  recommending  a summary  process, 
which  the  kind,  the  sympathising,  the  disinterested  world 
would  have  been  quite  gratified  in  discussing  for  “ nine  days 
and  much  discussion,  for  about  that  period,  probably  would  be 
spared  in  relation  to  my  decision. 

But  I have  given  my  opinion  : / assume  the  responsibility  : 
I am  answerable,  and  cheerfully  will  be,  to  whomever  may  dis- 
pute the  question  to  the  prejudice  of  either  of  the  really  interested 
parties. 

I am,  dear  sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  friend  and  obedient  servant, 
(Signed)  WM.  GIBBS  McNEILL. 

The  protest  which  I addressed  to  Dr.  McC.,  upon  receiving  a 
copy  of  this  remarkable  letter,  was  the  following  : 

Mount  Ephraim,  April  2,  1844. 

My  Dear  Sir  : — I have  hastily  perused  the  letter  of  Gen.  Me 
Neill,  dated  March  30,  which  you  have  this  moment  put  into  my 
hands.  As  this  matter  has  been  submitted  to  you  and  Gen.  Me 
Neill  and  Mr.  Otis,  I feel  bound  to  abide  by  your  decision,  but 
there  are  some  statements  in  Gen.  McNeill’s  letter  which  are 
inaccurate  and  which  I must  protest  against.  In  any  agreement 
which  I consented  to  make  with  Mrs.  S.  before  the  receipt  of  the 
intercepted  letter,  it  was  solely  with  the  view  of  saving  her  repu- 
tation and  character  ; and  I then  told  her  that  should  she  confess 
what  I saw  with  my  own  eyes,  and  shew  some  penitence  for  her 
misconduct,  that  I would  permit  her  to  live  in  my  house,  but 
henceforth  and  for  ever  in  separate  apartments.  This  was  the 
“ harmony ” and  the  “ home”  I sought,  nor  can  I admit  now,  nor 
did  I then,  that  my  “suspicions  were  unworthy”  and  “ ground- 


15 


less.”  I am  satisfied  Gen.  McNeill  and  yourself  will  do  me  the 
justice  to  correct  the  exceptionable  part  of  the  letter  referred  to. 

With  sentiments,  &c., 

I remain  sincerely  your  friend, 

(Signed)  JAMES  SCHOTT,  Jr. 

Dr.  George  McClellan. 

Gen.  Me.  Neill’s  letter,  I have  stated,  was  written  with  the 
direct  view  of  being  shewn  to  Mrs.  S.’s  friends;  and  however 
desirous  the  writer  may  have  been  to  render  it  useful  to  me,  it 
seems  he  was  equally  anxious  to  make  it  acceptable  to  them . 
The  following  note  in  my  possession,  from  Mr.  Butler  to  Gen.  Me 
Neill,  proves,  in  fact,  that  it  was  written  and  submitted  to  their 
inspection,  and  to  Mr.  Butler’s  inspection  too,  before  it  ever 
reached  Dr.  McC.,  or  was  exhibited  to  Mr.  Otis  and  myself: 

Dear  McNeill  : 

Your  letter  was  read  last  night  and  much  approved  of.  I send 
it  to  you  with  a copy  carefully  made  of  it.  Pray  let  it  go  as 
soon  as  possible,  and  do  see  Mr.  S.  this  morning,  and  talk  to  him 
as  nobody  but  yourself  can  talk.  A settlement  of  this  matter  will 
relieve  much  anxiety. 

Yours  ever  sincerely, 

(Signed)  P.  B. 

Tuesday , April  2 . 

P.  S.  There  is  no  d at  the  end  of  McClellan. 

It  is  somewhat  singular  that  this  letter  should  have  been  sub- 
mitted to  the  judgment  of  a man  standing  in  the  attitude  in 
which  Mr.  B.  stood  to  me,  and  by  a gentleman  occupying  the 
position  in  regard  to  me  which  Gen.  McN.  occupied. 

My  u protest”  was  sent  to  Gen.  McNeill  by  Dr.  McC.  with 
the  following  note  : 


16 


Mount  Ephraim,  New  Jersey, 

7 o'clock , Tuesday , P.  Mi,  April  2. 

To  General  McNeill, 

My  Dear  Sir  : — I handed  your  communication  to  Mr.  Schott 
this  afternoon,  at  Mount  Ephraim,  and  he  entered  his  immediate 
protest  against  some  of  the  material  points  of  your  statement  as 
being  inaccurate.  I now  enclose  his  letter  to  you  for  your  con- 
sideration. 

Yours  very  truly, 

(Signed)  GEO.  McCLELLAN. 

To  this  Gen.  McN.  the  next  day,  sent  the  following  reply  : 

United  States  Hotel,  Philadelphia, 
Wednesday , 9 A.  M .,  April  3,  1844. 
Dr.  George  McClellan, 

Present, 

Dear  Sir  : — I have  received  duly,  and  have  read  most  atten- 
tively, Mr.  Schott’s  “ protest,”  submitted  through  your  letter  of 
last  evening.  I deeply  regret  the  misapprehension  under  which 
I am  bound  to  believe  I unfortunately  labored  : for  the  whole  of 
my  efforts,  in  the  adoption  of  that  misapprehension,  proveto  have 
been  abortive,  and  all  my  conclusions , which  ivere , in  my  own 
mind , so  completely  exculpatory , fall  to  the  ground ; and  I 
am  no  longer  to  he  quoted  as  authority . 

I am,  most  respectfully,  your  friend  and  obedient  servant, 

(Signed)  WM.  GIBBS  McNEILL. 

There  was,  indeed,  occasion  “ deeply  to  regret”  the  misappre- 
hension under  which  Gen.  McN.  had  labored — or  professed  to 
labor — when  he  wrote  his  letter  of  the  30th.  It  was  written  for 
the  purpose  of  effecting  a reconciliation  ; and  it  was  so  superflu- 
ously well  adapted  to  the  purpose,  that  it  entirely  defeated  it.  It 
was  to  effect  not  merely  a universal  pacification,  but  a complete 
restoration  of  character  to  all  parties, — the  basis  of  the  treaty 


17 


being  a recognition  of  the  perfect  innocence  of  all  the  persons 
concerned.  With  such  a captivating  object  in  view,  it  is  not, 
perhaps,  wonderful  that  Gen.  McN.  should  invite  negociations, 
by  assuring  the  opposite  party  of  his  “ convictions’7  that  there 
was  “ no  longer  any  tenable  ground  for  Mr.  S.  to  assert  his  suspi- 
cions”— that  he  was  “ bound  to  doubt,  at  least,  if  not  fully  to  ad- 
mit, that  a false  medium  for  the  time  distorted  his  usually  correct 
and  natural  vision” — that  “Mr.  B.  had  no  account  to  render  to 
Mr.  S.,  except  in  the  grateful  recollection  of  many  evidences  of 
sincere  and  ardent  friendship  and  regard,”  &c.  &c.  Nor  is  it, 
perhaps,  any  more  wonderful  that  the  opposite  parties  should  im- 
mediately take  advantage  of  these  extraordinary  admissions,  vol- 
unteered by  a gentleman  appearing  in  the  character  of  my  official 
friend  and  representative — admissions  that  seemed  to  place  me 
in  the  position  of  conceding  the  innocence  of  Mrs.  S.  and  Mr.  B., 
and  of  admitting  that  I had  injured  them  by  “groundless  suspi- 
cions.” All  these  admissions  were  made  by  Gen.  McN. — doubt- 
less in  the  full  expectation  that  the  opposite  parties  would  make 
the  same  acknowledgments  of  my  innocence  which  he,  in  the 
authoritative  language  of  my  representative,  had  made  of  theirs, 
and  that  a perfect  reconciliation  would  immediately  be  effected. 
This  expectation  was  encouraged  by  them  in  every  particular,  un- 
til they  were  allowed  to  take  a copy  of  General  McNeill’s  let- 
ter ; and  then  the  whole  state  of  affairs  was  changed  as  by  a 
stroke  of  magic.  Every  thing  was  apparently  settled,  for  every 
thing  had  been  agreed  upon  by  the  negociators;  in  regard  to  the 
reconciliation  which  Gen.  McN.  had,  and  they,  up  to  that  mo- 
ment, professed  to  have  so  much  at  heart  ; and,  in  pursuance  of 
arrangements  made  with  them,  Gen.  McN.  himself,  accompanied 
by  Dr.  McC.  came  into  the  country  to  report  proceedings,  and 
carry  me  back  to  the  city.  It  was  on  this  occasion,  on  the  after- 
noon of  the  2d  April,  that  I was  first  made  acquainted  with  Gen. 
McN. ’s  letter  of  the  30th, — four  days  after  it  had  been  written  and 
exhibited  to  Mr.  B.  and  Airs.  S.’s  friends,  and  they  permitted  to 
3 


18 


take  a copy  of  it, — against  which  I immediately  wrote  my  pro- 
test. Although  provoked  at  the  course  adopted  by  Gen.  McN., 
I then  believed  that  his  motives  were  good  and  friendly.  I went 
back  to  the  city  very  unwillingly,  and  returned  to  my  house  as 
reluctantly,  and  that,  not  to  see  or  be  reconciled  to  Mrs.  S , but 
to  receive  Gen.  McN.  there,  as  he  requested.  With  regard  to 
Mr.  Butler,  all  that  I agreed,  or  ever  thought  of  agreeing  to,  was 
— not  to  give  up  my  right  to  fight  him, — but,  for  Mrs.  S.’s  sake, 
to  conceal  the  cause  of  quarrel,  by  substituting  another — to  take 
an  opportunity  to  insult  him,  and  thus  bring  on  a quarrel  in  which 
/would  have  appeared  as  the  aggressor.  To  this  course  I was 
impelled  by  the  advice,  the  remonstrances,  the  entreaties  of  these 
friends, — the  representations  they  made  of  the  effect  which  direct 
proceedings  must  have  upon  the  feelings  of  my  relatives  and 
those  of  Mrs.  8.,  and  upon  her  reputation. 

In  such  a spirit  as  I have  described,  I suffered  Gen.  McN.  to 
persuade  me  to  go  with  him  to  my  house  ; where — whatever  my 
feelings  and  anticipations  may  have  been — Ac  expected,  according 
to  his  treaty  with  the  other  parties,  to  find  Mrs.  S.  ready  to  be 
reconciled  to  me.  We  arrived  a little  after  11  o’clock  in  the 
evening,  and  found  the  house  empty.  Less  than  one  hour  before, 
Mrs.  S.  had  removed,  with  all  her  effects,  and  gone  to  the  house 
of  her  father,  Mr.  Richard  Willing.  Gen.  McN.  then  dis- 
covered, that  he  had  been  treated  with  duplicity  and  treachery — 
that  he  had  been  entrapped  into  admissions  in  regard  to  Mrs.  S. 
which  destroyed— -or  appeared  to  destroy — the  force  of  my 
charges  against  her  ; and  which  placed — or  seemed  to  place — her 
in  the  position  of  the  innocent,  and  me  in  that  of  the  guilty  party. 
And  from  that  moment,  in  fact,  a hue  and  cry  was  raised  against 
me,  as  having  basely  devised  a plot  to  ruin  the  reputation  of  my 
innocent  wife — but  for  what  purpose  no  one,  I believe,  has  yet 
discovered. 

It  was  then  that  Gen.  McN.  wrote  his  second  letter  to  Dr. 
McC\,  in  which  he  revoked  the  admissions,  and  manifestly 


# 


19 


declared  that  he  had  made  them  solely  for  the  purpose,  which  had 
proved  “abortive,”  of  effecting  a reconciliation, — and  protested 
that  he  was  “ no  longer  to  be  quoted  as  authority”  in  relation  to 
them. 

Nor  was  Mrs.  S.’s  leaving  my  house  the  only  proof  of  the 
change  in  our  respective  positions  wrought  by  Gen.  McNeill’s 
letter  of  March  30th,  or  of  the  determination  of  her  friends  to 
improve  the  advantage  they  had  gained,  and  to  take  every  step, 
however  violent,  which  might  enlist  opinions,  public  and  private 
against  me,  as  a villain  who  had  brought,  base  charges  against  a 
wife,  whose  innocence  appeared  from  the  admissions  made  in  the 
letter  of  my  authorised  friend,  Gen.  McNeill.  Gen.  McN.’s  letter 
of  revocation  was  written  on  the  3d  of  April.  Upon  the  very 
next  day,  the  4th,  Mrs.  S.  went  before  the  Mayor  of  Philadelphia, 
and  by  the  following  affidavit,  accusing  me  of  acts  of  jealousy 
and  outrage,  first  gave  publicity  to  an  affair  which,  even  for  her 
own  sake,  I had  sought  to  conceal,  and  arrainged  me  before  the 
bar  of  the  public  as  a jealous,  brutal  husband,  from  whom  she  was 
obliged  to  appeal  to  the  laws  to  protect  her  life. 

Commonwealth,  ^ 
vs.  > 

James  Schott,  Jr.  ) 

Ellen  Willing  Schott,  being  duly  sworn  says — I was  married  to 
James  Schott,  Jr.,  in  the  month  of  October,  1S39.  From  that 
time  till  the  spring  of  1840,  we  resided  in  New  York.  After- 
wards, till  the  autumn  of  the  year  1841,  we  lived  together  in  my 
father’s  family,  except  during  part  of  the  summer  of  1841,  during 
which  we  were  at  lodgings  at  Germantown,  and  afterwards  made 
an  excursion  to  the  Falls  of  Niagara.  The  first  occasion  on 
which  Mr.  Schott  used  towards  me  personal  violence  was  in  the 
summer  of  1841,  either  at  the  end  of  the  month  of  June  or  the 
beginning  of  July,  at  Germantown,  where  we  were  staying  for 
the  benefit  of  my  child’s  health,  who  had  been  ill  for  a long 
time,  and  whose  life  I was  then  beginning  to  despair  of.  I was 


20 


in  the  habit  of  having  the  baby  brought  during  the  day  into  my 
own  chamber,  it  being  larger  and  more  airy  an  apartment  than 
the  one  in  which  the  infant  and  nurse  slept.  Upon  this  occasion 
I wished  Mr.  Schott  to  rise  that  the  room  might  be  made  ready 
to  receive  the  visit  of  Dr.  Betton.  Upon  my  urging  him  to  do 
so,  he  became  violent,  and  drawing  from  under  his  bolster  a 
loaded  pocket  pistol,  which  he  always  had  under  his  pillow  at 
night,  he  presented  it  at  my  breast  and  threatened  to  shoot  me  if 
I teased  him  any  longer.  The  baby  died  on  the  15th  July. 

We  went  to  housekeeping  in  the  autumn  of  1S41.  From  that 
time  he  has  been  in  the  habit  of  frequenting  the  Clubs.  His 
usual  custom  was  to  remain  till  about  two  o’clock  in  the  morning, 
very  frequently  he  did  so  till  daylight ; and  on  some  occasions  he 
has  not  returned  till  late  on  the  following  day.  This  mode  of 
life  had  the  worst  possible  effect  upon  his  temper.  He  was  most 
violent  and  abusive  in  his  language  to  me,  swearing  at  me  for  the 
most  trivial  causes.  He  was  so  unjust  and  unreasonable  as  to 
cause  me  much  uneasiness.  During  all  this  time  until  May  1843, 
it  was  my  habit  to  watch  for  him  at  night  till  his  return,  being 
always  anxious  while  he  was  absent,  and  thinking  if  any  thing 
would  induce  him  to  reform  his  hours,  it  would  be  witnessing  the 
great  uneasiness  they  caused  me.  One  night  when  he  returned 
home  near  daylight,  on  my  remonstrating  with  him  on  the  late- 
ness of  the  hour  and  pleading  with  him  to  change  his  habits,  he  a 
second  time,  presented  a pistol  and  threatened  to  fire  at  me.  This 
took  place  in  my  bed  chamber. 

Last  summer  we  went  to  Brighton.  I there  accidentally  made 
the  acquaintance  of  a gentleman.  I had  only  conversed  with  him 
three  times,  and  then  always  in  company  with  another  lady,  when 
one  night  I was  suddenly  awakened  from  my  sleep  at  3 o’clock 
by  Mr.  Schott,  who  was  standing  over  me  with  a light  in  his 
hand.  He  insulted  me  then  in  the  grossest  manner,  insisting  that 
the  gentleman  to  whom  I have  alluded  had  been  in  my  chamber, 
using  the  coarsest  language  and  threatening  to  put  me  to  death. 


2 1 


So  much  was  I shocked  by  this  outrage  that  I shrunk  from  re- 
ferring to  it  on  the  succeeding  day.  Mr.  Schott  was  equally  si- 
lent in  regard  to  it,  and  it  was  not  until  six  weeks  after  our  re- 
turn to  Philadelphia  that  he  alluded  to  it — asking  me — u What 
do  you  think  of  my  jealous  fit  at  New  Brighton.”  He  then  said, 
that  at  the  time  he  had  been  near  putting  me  to  death. 

Mr.  Schott  made  a gentleman’s  acquaintance,  in  November 
last,  at  a public  dinner.  He  then  invited  this  gentleman  to  dine 
at  his  house,  and  from  that  time  courted  his  intimacy  in  every 
way,  and  he  became  a constant  visiter  at  our  house,  on  the 
strength  of  Mr.  Schott’s  frequent  invitations.  During  the  course 
of  the  winter,  this  gentleman  generally  dined  two  or  three  times 
a week  at  our  table,  and  their  intercourse  was  almost  daily, — for 
if  this  gentleman  did  not  call  on  Mr.  S.,  Mr.  Schott  either  wrote 
for  him  to  come,  or  went  to  visit  him  at  his  rooms.  Mr.  Schott 
this  winter  had  constant  dinner  parties — the  hours  kept  were 
very  late,  his  friends  very  generally  not  leaving  his  table  till  one 
and  two  o’clock  in  the  morning.  If  we  went  to  the  theatre  or  a 
concert,  it  was  always  Mr.  Schott’s  habit  to  invite  home  with 
him  the  gentlemen  he  might  happen  to  meet,  and  it  was  his  cus- 
tom to  remain  with  them  in  the  dining  room  till  late — until  long 
after  I had  retired.  It  was,  I think,  the  beginning  of  February, 
that  Mr.  Schott  was  confined  to  his  room  by  illness.  The  gen- 
tleman to  whom  I have  referred,  called  one  evening  to  see  Mr. 
Schott  on  business.  When  he  descended  from  Mr.  Schott’s 
room,  he  entered  the  parlour  to  make  me  a visit.  It  must  at 
that  time  have  been  eleven  o’clock,  although  I was  not  then 
aware  of  the  hour.  We  remained  till  a quarter  before  one 
o’clock.  This  was  the  only  occasion  on  which  this  gentleman 
remained  with  me  till  so  late  an  hour,  excepting  on  one  other, 
when  Mr.  Schott  and  another  gentleman  were  of  the  party.  On 
my  going  up  stairs,  I found  Mr.  Schott  violently  excited — he  was 
exceedingly  angry  at  this  gentleman’s  having  remained  so  late — 
he  came  into  my  dressing  room  and  seized  me  by  the  throat,  and 


22 


almost  strangled  me.  He  afterwards,  while  I was  in  bed,  at- 
tempted twice  to  choke  me.  The  last  time  the  pain  from  the 
pressure  was  so  excessive,  that  though  I had  refrained  from 
screaming  before,  lest  the  servants  might  hear  the  noise.  I could 
do  so  no  longer.  On  my  screaming  loudly,  Mr.  Schott  desisted. 
I immediately  rose  from  the  bed,  and  said  I wrould  no  longer  re- 
main in  the  room,  that  my  life  was  not  safe  with  him.  He  said, 
u You  had  better  go,  for  I promise  you  if  you  remain  here  you 
will  not  be  alive  in  the  morning.”  I went  to  my  dressing  room 
and  laid  on  the  sofa  during  the  rest  of  the  night,  securing  the 
doors,  as  I felt  myself  to  be  in  danger.  On  the  night  of  Wed- 
nesday, 6th  of  March,  in  New  York,  Mr.  Schott  threatened  to  put 
me  to  death  ; and  on  Tuesday  night,  1 2th  of  March,  in  Philadel- 
phia, held  a six-barrelled  pistol  at  me,  and  again  said  he  wTould 
put  me  to  death.  It  was  on  that  night  that  he  said,  “ I will  sepa- 
rate from  you  now  ; for  if  I do  not  now,  you  will  separate  from 
me  at  some  future  time,  and  then  you  will  crush  me.”  On  the 
same  night  he  drew  my  wedding  ring  from  my  finger  by  force 
and  violence,  and  took  it  away  from  me,  declaring  that  he  consi- 
dered our  marriage  dissolved.  The  first  intimation  given  to  my 
family  of  my  domestic  misery,  was  in  the  spring  of  1843,  by  my 
maid,  who  went  to  see  Dr.  Peace,  without  my  knowledge,  and 
told  him  of  the  state  of  suffering  in  which  I then  was, — saying 
that  if  something  were  not  done,  she  feared  my  mind  would  be 
affected.  Dr.  Peace  insisted  on  knowing  from  me  the  cause, 
and  I then,  for  the  first  time,  spoke  of  my  unhappiness. 

One  instance  of  violent  temper  it  may  be  well  for  me  to  men- 
tion. We  were  going  to  the  theatre,  last  October, — Mr.  Schott 
was  after  the  time,  and  became  impatient  at  my  hurrying  him — 
he  was  exceedingly  angry  while  we  were  walking — swore  he 
would  put  me  in  the  gutter,  and  used  such  gross  and  improper 
language,  that  I refused  to  accompany  him  further,  and  returned 
home.  These  exhibitions  of  temper  were  occurring  frequently — 
often  daily.  All  of  the  abovementioned  incidents  that  took  place 


i 


23 


subsequently  to  last  October,  were  made  known  at  the  time  to 
my  sisters,  Mrs.  Ridgway  and  Mrs.  Peace.  In  October  I seri- 
ously thought  of  separating  from  him,  and  consulted  Dr.  Peace 
to  that  effect.  I was  most  anxious  to  do  so,  but  was  dissuaded 
by  my  sisters  and  Dr.  Peace  from  taking  this  step. 

On  the  night  of  Tuesday,  2nd  of  April,  my  father  came  to 
Mr.  Schott’s  house,  and  offered  me  an  asylum  in  his  own,  and 
I am  now  living  in  his  family  and  under  his  protection.  I have 
reason  to  apprehend,  and  do  apprehend,  that  Mr.  Schott  may 
offer  me  personal  violence,  if  an  opportunity  for  doing  so  should 
occur.  There  is  no  cause  that  I am  aware  of,  for  the  course  of 
conduct  which  Mr.  Schott  has  pursued  towards  me,  but  his  irrita- 
ble and  bad  temper.  There  never  was  the  slightest  grounds  for 
any  of  the  accusations  which  he  has  made  against  me,  or  for  any 
of  the  suspicions  which  he  has  professed  to  entertain. 

ELLEN  WILLING  SCHOTT. 
Sworn  and  subscribed  before  me 
this  4th  day  of  April,  1844. 

J.  M.  SCOTT,  Mayor . 

Mayor’s  Office, 

City  of  Philadelphia,  Jlpril  17,  1844. 
I certify  that  the  foregoing  affidavit  is  a true  copy  of' the  origi- 
nal now  on  tile  in  this  office. 

JOHN  B.  KENNEY,  Clerk  of  Police. 

I have  no  inclination  to  comment  upon  this  unfortunate  paper 
further  than,  it  will  be  found,  I have  commented  upon  it  in  the 
letter  to  Mr.  Kuhn,  subsequently  annexed — upon  the  objects  of 

those  who  contrived  or  recommended  such  a step  to  be  taken 

or  upon  the  charges  made  in  it  against  me.  But  I cannot  but 
recommend  attention  to  two  circumstances — first,  the  fact  that, 
having  returned  from  New  York  on  the  11th  of  March,  Mrs.  S. 
had  continued  voluntarily  to  reside  in  my  house  with  me  (for  I 
was  in  it  whenever  I chose  to  be)  from  that  period  up  to  the  2nd 


24 


of  April— (a  period  of  three,  weeks,)  although  she  testifies  to  one 
act  of  outrage,  alleged  to  have  been  committed  by  me  on  the 
12th  of  March,  and  swears  that  she  apprehended  further  violence, 
and  knew  that  on  the  16th  of  March  I had  applied  to  Mr.  Dallas 
for  articles  of  separation — in  truth,  up  to  the  period  when  the 
facts  of  the  case  were  creeping  out ; and,  secondly,  to  the  admis- 
sion made  by  her,  in  the  fourth  paragraph  of  the  affidavit,  of  her 
having,  at  a period  when  I was,  from  her  own  shewing,  “ confined 
to  my  room  by  illness,”  received  a visit  in  the  parlor  from  Mr. 
Butler  who  had  just  departed  from  my  sick  bed,  at  11  o’clock  at 
night,  and  remained  with  her  alone  “ till  a quarter  before  one 
o’clock  in  the  morning” — a midnight  visit  of  nearly  two  hours 
(according  to  her  own  confession)  permitted  by  a wife,  whose 
proper  post  would  have  been  by  the  bedside  of  her  sick  husband. 
This  was  one  of  those  “ imprudences ” which  I alluded  to  as 
having  happened,  and  as  having  caused  remonstrance,  but  as  hav- 
ing been  ultimately  forgiven  and  forgotten.  In  point  of  fact , as 
I will  here  state , that  visit  lasted  from  10  o’clock  until  half- 
past  one. 

These  steps  taken  by  Mrs.  S.,  left  me  no  alternative  but  to 
pursue  my  original  determination  ; and  as  the  charges  made 
against  me  in  the  affidavit  exposed  me  to  immediate  arrest,  (and 
to  be  arrested  at  sucb  a moment  would,  I well  knew,  afford  an 
additional  ground  for  the  calumnies  which  were  now  unsparingly 
heaped  upon  me,) — notwithstanding  Gen.  McNeill’s  advising 
me  to  surrender  myself  to  the  civil  authorities,  to  be  bound  over  to 
keep  the  peace;  this  gentleman  having,  at  that  time,  assumed  the  po- 
sition of  being  “ technically”  my  friend — I,  the  next  morning,  at  3 
o’clock,  (Friday,  April  5th)  left  the  city  ; and  that  very  evening  de- 
spatched a friend  with  a letter  to  Gen.  McN.  covering  a challenge, 
which  I requested  him  immediately  to  deliver  to  Mr.  B.  I must 
here  explain,  that  Gen.  McN.,  although  summoned  by  me  as  an  ad- 
viser on  the  field,  rather  than  as  a “friend”  (speaking  techni- 
cally,) had  declared  himself  willing*  if  it  should  be  necessary,  to 


* 


act  for  me  in  that  capacity  ; and  Mr.  Otis,  upon  the  score  of  Gen. 
McN.’s  greater  age  and  experience,  had  expressed  a wish  that 
Gen.  Me.  N.  should  act  in  his  place.  It  was  for  this  reason  that 
I sent  the  message. to  Gen.  McN.  It  was  presented  to  him  at  2 
o’clock,  A.  M.  Saturday  morning.  He  refused  to  deliver  it,  as  I 
desired  him  ; and  that  morning  left  Philadelphia  for  New  York, — 
leaving  me,  after  all  his  generous  efforts  in  my  behalf,  in  a much 
more  unhappy  position  than  that  in  which  he  had  found  me,  and 
leaving  me,  too,  to  get  out  of  it  as  I could,  without  expecting 
any  further  assistance  from  his  experience  or  his  philanthropy.* 

* I feel  all  the  gratitude  which  any  one  will  say  I ought  to  feel  to  Gen. 
McNeill  for  the  services  he  rendered  me  in  this  business.  But  I cannot 
help  remarking  upon  the  very  eccentric  manner  in  which  he  rendered  them. 
The  note  from  Mr.  Butler  already  given,  proves  that  Gen.  McNeill  had 
taken  him  into  counsel,  while  acting  as  my  adviser ; and  I have  ample  proof, 
in  fact,  that  during  the  time  he  was  acting  for  me  in  that  capacity,  and  pro- 
fessing, before  others,  to  Mr.  Butler,  that  he  was  my  friend,  “technically,” 
he  was  at  least  once  closeted  with  Mr.  Butler,  under  lock  and  key.  After 
coming  home  with  me  from  the  country,  and  finding  that  Mrs.  S.  was  gone, 
and  his  plans  of  reconciliation  were  destroyed,  he  was  excessively  enraged, 
and  threatened  to  challenge  Mr.  Binney,  the  legal  counsel  of  Mrs.  S.’s 
friends,  as  the  supposed  cause  of  the  defeat  of  his  arrangement.  In  the 
midst  of  this  rage,  he  made  a midnight  visit,  too,  to  Mr.  Butler,  (it  was 
the  night  of  our  return  from  the  country,)  whom  he  fiercely  berated  as  a 
confederate  in  the  conspiracy  by  which  he  had  been  entrapped,  and  de- 
clared himself  henceforth  “technically  my  friend.”  His  wrath,  however, 
soon  subsided.  He  is  now  Mr.  Butler’s  very  active  and  zealous  friend : 
which  will  appear  plainly  enough  from  the  following  correspondence  : 

Eutaw  House,  Baltimore, 

April , 28,  1844. 

Sir: — I came  to  this  city  yesterday,  in  consequence  of  a letter  which  I 
received  from  Mr.  Samuel  W.  Smith  in  the  morning,  at  New  Castle,  con- 
veying to  me  information  of  a statement  made  by  you  to  him,  which  I 
cannot  but  consider,  to  say  the  least  of  it,  extraordinary,  more  especially 
after  referring  to  that  part  of  your  letter  to  Dr.  McClellan  of  the  23d  inst., 
in  which  you  say,  “ These  views  are,  that  good  taste,  refinement,  every 
4 


26 


As  soon  as  I was  informed  of  Gen.  NcN.’s  refusal  to  deliver 
the  message,  I placed  the  affair  again  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Otis, 

principle  of  propriety,  dictate  silence  in  reference  to  past  events.”  You 
stated  to  Mr.  Smith  that  you  “ professed  the  kindest  feelings  for  me,  but 
did  not  believe  in  the  guilt  of  others,” — that  “ after  a thorough  investiga- 
tion, you  are  satisfied  that  I have  no  just  cause  of  complaint  against  P. 
B.,” — that  “you  so  informed  me,”  and  that  you  did  not  leave  me  until  I ad- 
mitted you  were  right , — that  “ I seemed  satisfied  my  first  impressions  were 
incorrect .” 

Now,  sir,  I have  to  inform  you,  first,  that,  although  I have  acted  with 
great  delicay  towards  you,  I have  felt  that  I had  cause  to  complain  of  the 
way  in  which  you,  while  professing  to  be  my  friend,  and  acting  as  I sup- 
posed in  that  character,  injured  me  by  unwarrantable  admissions  which  you 
were  not  authorised  to  make,  and  which  you  afterwards,  upon  my  protest- 
ing against  them,  revolted ; and,  secondly,  that  I have  indulged  this  delicacy 
towards  you,  because,  with  all  my  dissatisfaction,  I believed  you  were  act- 
ing with  good  and  friendly  intentions,  and  that  I had  no  right  to  regard 
your  conduct  in  any  other  light  than  as  being  highly  imprudent.  But  the 
stand  you  have  now  taken,  as  appears  to  be  indicated  in  the  above  state- 
ment, releases  me  from  all  further  obligations  of  delicacy ; and  I now  tell 
you,  sir,  distinctly,  that  I never  informed  you  that  I was  satisfied  I had  no 
just  cause  of  complaint  against  Pierce  Butler;  that  I never  admitted  you 
were  right : that  I never  was,  or  seemed  satisfied  that  my  first  impressions 

were  incorrect.  In  closing  this  communication,  I cannot  but  regret,  that 

\ 

the  course  you  have  pursued,  has  made  it  imperative  on  me  to  address  you 
in  the  manner  I have  done.  Considering  the  relation  in  which  you  stood 
towards  me,  I,  surely,  had  a right  to  expect  that  you  would  have  abstained 
from  all  remarks  reflecting  injuriously  upon  my  conduct  and  character, 
subsequent  to  your  departure  from  Philadelphia. 

T am,  sir,  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

JAMES  SCHOTT,  Jr. 

Gen.  W.  Gibbs  McNeill,  Stonington. 

Stonington,  Ct.',  Friday  Night. 

May  3 d,  1844. 

Mr.  James  Schott, 

Eutaw  House , Baltimore  : 

But  just  returned  home — T have  only  this  evening  received  your  letter 
of  the  28th  ult. 


4 


by  whom  it  was  immediately  attended  to.  The  message  was  de 
livered  on  the  evening  of  the  7th,  and  immediately  accepted. 


The  following  is  the  substance  of  my  challenge  to  Mr.  Butler, — 
the  original  copy  of  which  has  been  mislaid  : 

Sir,  Jlpril  6,  1844. 

Referring  to  my  note  under  date  of  March  the  11th,  at  the 
Astor  House,  I have  now  to  inform  you,  that  the  time  has  arrived 
when  I can,  Without  compromising  others,  call  upon  you  for  the 
satisfaction  which  my  deep  injuries  require.  My  friend,  Gen. 
McNeil], X will  hand  you  this,  and  will  make  the  necessary 
arrangements. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

JAMES  SCHOTT,  Jr. 

Pierce  Butler,  Esq. 

Sir  : — I accept  your  challenge.  In  order  that  you  may  fully 
understand  the  views  which  I entertain  while  acceding  to  your 

I am  quite  sorry  to  be  assured,  from  its  tenor,  of  a predisposition  to  re- 
gard me  other  than  as  I know  myself  to  have  been — in  word  and  deed — 
your  friend. 

As  it  regards  all  you  have  heard  and  apparently  believe,  it  will  suffice  to 
say,  I ask  no  extenuation,  even  from  want  of  judgment,  or  any  other  cause 
— for  what  I have  said  or  done. 

It  would  seem — as  I rejoice  to  find — you  have  abundant  friends  ; judging, 
as  I do,  from  the  correspondence  of  some  of  them  with  me ; and  as  it  also 
seems  your  preference  has  been  to  exclude  me,  of  late,  as  one  of  them — I 
beg  it  will  be  understood,  that  I am,  by  preference  on  my  part,  so  far  re- 
conciled, that  I wish  not  to  be  remembered  till  again  you  shall  feel  in  such 
extremity  as  to  ask  the  services  of  still 

Your  friend  and  obedient  servant, 

WM.  GIBBS  McNEILL. 

\ On  Gen.  McNeill’s  refusal  to  deliver  this  message,  Mr.  Otis’  name  was 
substituted. 


request,  I send  you  the  enclosed. § You  will  perceive  from  its 
date,  that  it  was  written  immediately  after  my  return  from  New 
\ ork,  but  I was  deterred  from  sending  it  in  consequence  of  a 
belief  that  your  mind  must  have  undergone  a change  in  respect 
to  the  unworthy  and  unjust  suspicions  which  you  entertained 
against  me  ; which  belief  was  founded  on  the  fact,  that  for  two 
days  after  you  had  made  a charge  of  so  grave  a character  against 
me,  you  not  only  continued  to  occupy  the  same  parlor  and  to 
take  your  meals  at  the  same  table  with  me,  but  allowed  your  wife 
to  do  the  same. 

I am,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

, PIERCE  BUTLER. 

James  Schott,  Jr.  Esq.  April  8M,  1844. 

Eutaw  House,  April  11  th,  7 4 4. 

My  Dear  Sir, 

I feel  it  due  to  you  and  to  myself,  to  explain  to  you  the  con- 
cluding paragraph  of  Mr.  Butler’s  acceptance  of  my  challenge. 
Mrs.  Ridgway’s  prayers,  entreaties,  and  tears,  alone  influenced 
me  in  suffering  Mr.  B.  to  remain  in  my  parlor  at  the  Astor 
House,  after  the  discovery  of  his  base  and  villainous  conduct, — 
and  although  this  promise  was  made  by  me  most  reluctantly,  yet 
having  made  it,  when  influenced  by  her  tears  and  distress,  I felt 
bound  to  keep  it.  She  begged  me,  as  being  under  my  protection, 
not  to  expose  them  in  New  York,  in  a public  hotel,  and  that  this 
would  most  assuredly  be  the  case,  should  Mr.  B.  be  dismissed 
from  the  party.  I was  weak  enough  to  yield  to  her  solicitations, 
but,  as  you  well  know  from  the  letter  addressed  to  him  on  the 

§ This  extraordinary  letter  I handed  to  Mr.  Otis,  to  be  returned  to  Mr. 
Butler,  being  unwilling  to  receive  any  communication  from  him  other  than 
the  acceptance  of  my  challenge.  I have  since  understood,  from  gentlemen 
to  whom  this  letter  was  exhibited  by  Gen.  McNeill,  that  it  was  dated  the 
15th  of  March,  and  is  the  letter  referred  to  by  Mrs.  S.  in  her  letter  to  Mrs 
Ridgway  on  the  following  day,  March  16,  and  which  I intercepted 


29 


morning  of  my  departure  from  the  Astor  House,  and  from 
my  subsequent  application  to  you  to  act  as  my  friend,  the  day  after 
my  arrival  in  Philadelphia,  that  I have  never  wavered  in  my  de- 
termination to  punish  this  insidious  libertine,  but  that  I have  been 
prevented  and  delayed  by  causes  over  which  I had  no  control, — 
and  that  this  is  a base  trick  of  his,  worthy  of  his  consummate  art 
and  cunning,  to  place  me  in  a false  position  before  my  friends  and 
the  world.  I told  Mr.  B.  distinctly,  the  Sunday  before  we  left, 
that  nothing  but  my  promise  to  Mrs.  Ridgway  protected  him  from 
my  just  indignation  while  in  New  York. 

Your  friend, 

(Signed)  JAMES  SCHOTT,  Jr. 

Harrison  Gray  Otis,  Jr.  Esq. 

Mr.  Otis  was  referred  to  Mr.  Alston,  Mr.  B.’s  friend,  who 
was  empowered  to  arrange  with  Mr.  0.  all  the  necessary  prelimi- 
naries. These  gentlemen  met  on  Sunday,  the  7th  ; on  which 
occasion  Mr.  Otis  was  informed  by  Mr.  Alston,  that  Mr.  B.  se- 
lected pistols  as  the  weapons.  At  the  same  time,  Mr.  Alston 
declined  making  any  further  arrangements  as  to  the  manner  in 
which  the  duel  should  be  fougbt,  or  as  to  the  time  and  place  ; but 
he  appointed  a second  meeting  with  Mr.  Otis,  to  take  place  at 
Washington,  on  Saturday,  the  13th;  at  which  meeting  all  the 
preliminaries  were  to  be  completed,  and  the  articles  drawn  up 
and  signed. 

When  I sent  Mr.  Otis  with  the  message,  on  the  6th  of  April,  I 
had  reason  to  believe  that  Mr.  B.  would  appoint  the  earliest  pos- 
sible period  for  the  meeting  ; for  1 had  been  told  he  had  expressed 
a desire  to  settle  the  affair  immediately,  and  an  intention,  upon 
receipt  of  a message  from  me,  to  meet  me  the  following  morning, 
at  six  paces.  I have  ample  proof  of  this  ; which  I am  ready  to 
produce,  whenever  he  shall  dare  to  deny  it.  I firmly  believed 
he  would  appoint  the  meeting  for  Monday,  the  8th  ; and  it  was 
in  this  belief  that,  upon  Sunday  the  7th,  having  not  then  heard. 


so 


nor,  indeed,  expecting  to  hear,  from  Mr.  Otis  until  late  that  night, 
or  early  the  next  morning,  I wrote  and  transmitted  to  my  friend 
Hartman  Kuhn,  Jr.  Esq.,  the  following  letter,  containing  the 
comments  on  Mrs.  S.’s  affidavit  previously  referred  to  : 

New  Castle,  Delaware, 
Jlpril  1th , 1844,  Sunday  morning. 

My  Dear  Hartman:  On  the  eve  of  a most  solemn  occasion, 
with  the  possibility  of  my  being  soon  ushered  into  the  presence 
of  my  Maker,  I have  thought  it  proper  to  make  the  following 
statement,  which  I leave  in  your  hands  as  my  friend,  to  vindicate 
my  character  and  honor.  Feeling  as  I do,  the  awful  responsibi- 
lity, I shall  write  the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing  but  the 
truth,  so  help  me  God. 

An  affidavit  has  been  filed  against  me  in  the  Mayor’s  Court, 
by  my  wife,  stating  that  I presented  a loaded  pistol  to  her  breast, 
and  threatened  her  life.  This  I solemnly  deny , and  can  only 
account  for  such  a course  on  the  part  of  my  wife,  from  the  fact 
that  I had,  several  weeks  before,  applied  to  counsel  to  obtain  a 
separation  from  her;  and  articles  of  separation  had  been  drawn 
up  by  him,  which  were  not  executed,  in  consequence  of  the  delay 
of  my  friends  in  arranging  an  affair  of  honor  connected  with  this 
separation.  Suffice  it  for  me  to  say,  that  this  wife,  who  has 
sworn  her  life  against  me,  continued  for  several  weeks  after  the 
alleged  violence,  to  live,  at  her  own  choice,  in  my  house, — to 
which  I came  whenever  I desired  ; and  the  day  after  having  made 
the  affidavit,  at  11  o’clock  in  the  morning,  she  was  perfectly  will- 
ing to  return  to  it.  The  just  ground  I had  for  a separation 
from  her , I shall  not  reveal  here , but  am  sure,  that  time , con- 
science, and  remorse , will  inflict  misery  enough  upon  her , 
without  my  adding  to  it.  By  the  great  delay  in  getting  one  or 
other  of  my  friends  to  Philadelphia,  and  their  continued  and  pro- 
tracted consultations,  I have  been  prevented  from  calling  to  ac- 
count the  villain  who  has  brought  all  this  misery  upon  me, — I 


♦ 


mean  Pierce  Butler.  As  soon  as  it  was  possible — as  I can  prove 
by  documents  in  the  hands  of  my  friend  Mr.  Otis,  I have  done 
so  ; and  if  I have  suffered  in  the  estimation  of  my  friends  from 
this  delay,  those  friends  who  have  had  the  responsibility  of  this 
affair,  are  accountable,  and  not^yself.  I refer  particularly  to 
the  course  pursued  by  Gen.  McNeill. 

I have  also  here  solemnly  to  state,  that  I intercepted  a letter 
from  Mrs.  Schott,  addressed  to  Mrs.  Ridgway,  her  sister,  dated 
16th  March,  1844,  the  concluding  paragraph  of  which  I hereby 
give  you.  Extract: — “ Perhaps  it  would  be  better  for  Mr.  B. 
[meaning  Mr.  Butler]  to  send  the  letter  to-night,  but  I do  not 
advise,  you  can  best  judge  ; — he  [meaning  myself]  appears  calm 
and  resolved ', — he  is  not  violent.  I only  hope  it  may  be  suicide 
he  has  determined  on,  but  I think  a duel  will  be  the  consequence/’ 
It  was  on  the  evening  that  I intercepted  this  letter,  that  I applied 
to  Geo.  M.  Dallas,  Esq.,  as  my  counsel  to  draw  up  the  articles  of 
separation.  I also  do  most  solemnly  say , that  the  other 
charges  made  against  me  in  the  affidavit,  (at  least  those  that  I 
have  heard,)  by  this  unhappy  and  desperate  woman,  are  greatly 
exaggerated  or  entirely  false  ; and  that  if  I am  to  meet  my  God 
ere  long,  it  will  be  with  the  consciousness  of  having  been  a kind, 
affectionate,  and  indulgent  husband  to  her.  And  all  this  I again, 
and  perhaps  for  the  last  time , solemnly  aver  to  he  true , on  the 
word  of  a man,  who  may  never  again  be  able  to  assert  his  inno- 
eence,  and  his  wrongs,  and  whose  tongue  and  hand  may  soon  be 
stilled  by  death. 

(Signed)  JAMES  SCHOTT,  Jr. 

Hartman  Kuhn,  Jr.,  Esq. 

Upon  learning  the  next  day,  at  Wilmington,  that  the  challenge 
had  been  accepted,  and  that  the  preliminaries  were  to  be  settled 
at  Washington,  on  the  Saturday  following,  I proceeded  to  Balti- 
more, and  thence  to  Washington;  where,  on  the  14th,  at  mid- 
night, a few  hours  before  the  duel  was  fought ; and  in  view  of  all 


32 


its  possibly  fatal  consequence  to  myself,  I wrote  another  letter  to 
Mr.  Kuhn,  reaffirming  the  truth  of  all  the  statements  made  in  my 
letter  of  the  7th. 


Washington,  Sunday  Evening, 

April , 14  th,  1844. 

My  Dear  Hartman  : — At  last  I have  brought  Mr.  Butler  to 
a meeting,  and  I expect  to  go  out  to-morrow  morning  at  5,  in  the 
district.  The  terms  which  his  friend  has  proposed  to  me,  and 
insisted  upon,  are  unusual,  and  such  as  my  friends  would  not  have 
permitted  me  to  accept,  were  the  quarrel  an  ordinary  one.  This 
matter  will  be  fully  explained  to  you  by  Mr.  Otis;  but  I believe 
there  is  justice  on  High,  and  that  the  villain  will  be  punished  for 
invading  my  peace  and  honor. 

Let  me  repeat  to  you  here,  my  dear  Hartman,  and  perhaps  for 
the  last  time,  solemnly  reiterate  the  truth  and  the  whole  truth  of 
the  statement  made  you  this  day  week  at  New  Castle  ; and  en- 
treat you,  should  I fall,  to  do  me  justice.  I ask  nothing  more 
than  that  a plain  and  unvarnished  tale  of  my  wrongs  and  suffer- 
ings should  be  placed  before  my  friends  and  the  world. 

I must  now  try  to  get  a little  repose,  as  I leave  here  at  3 in  the 
morning. 

God  bless  you  my  dear  friend. 

Yours  until  death, 

(Signed)  SCHOTT. 

Hartman  Kuhn,  Jr.,  Esq. 


The  day  before  this  letter  was  written, — that  is,  on  Saturday 
the  13th,  Mr.  Otis  and  Mr.  Alston  had  their  second  meeting,  and 
after  getting  over  certain  difficulties  which  will  be  found  described 
in  Mr.  Otis’  published  statement,  agreed  upon  the  articles,  as  set 
forth  in  the  same  statement. 


4 


33 


Mr.  OTIS’  STATEMENT. 

In  the  affair  of  honor  which  took  place  at  Bladensburg  between 
James  Schott,  Jr.,  and  Pierce  Butler,  on  Monday,  the  15th  inst., 
the  second,  friend,  and  surgeon  of  the  former  gentleman  assumed 
the  responsibility  of  withdrawing  him  from  the  contest  after  the 
second  fire,  on  account  of  a physical  disability,  which  rendered 
the  terms  insisted  on  by  the  opposite  parties,  in  the  judgment  of 
Mr.  Schott’s  friends,  unequal.  I therefore  deem  it  due  to  my 
principal  and  myself  to  state  that  this  course  was  pursued  contrary 
to  his  express  wishes,  and  to  give  an  authentic  account  of  the  oc- 
currences on  the  field. 

And  first,  it  is  deemed  proper  to  premise,  that  the  meeting  was 
deferred  by  the  challenged  party,  for  eight  days  after  the  message 
passed,  and  until  Saturday  evening,  13th  inst.  none  of  the  pre- 
liminaries were  made  known,  except  the  weapons  to  be  used ; and 
as  the  terms  proposed  were  unusual,  our  principal  labored  under 
the  disadvantage  of  being  kept  in  the  dark,  as  to  the  mode  of 
fight,  while  the  other  party  not  only  had  the  superiority  of  being 
acquainted  with  those  terms,  but  could  employ  the  interim  for 
preparation  and  practice. 

The  Preliminaries  were  these  : — - 

1.  The  principals  are  to  stand  back  to  back,  at  the  distance  of 
ten  paces  from  one  another. 

2.  The  pistols  to  be  loaded  with  powder  and  one  ball  by  the 
seconds  in  presence  of  the  friends  of  their  principals. 

3.  When  the  principals  have  taken  their  respective  positions, 
the  seconds  shall  then  hand  their  pistols  to  them  and  shall  forth- 
with proceed  to  take  their  places. 

4.  The  seconds  giving  the  word  shall  then  ask  the  principals, 
“ Gentlemen,  are  you  ready?”  The  principals  shall  then  hold 
their  pistols  muzzles  down,  and  when  ready  each  shall  answer 
u ready.”  Then,  and  not  till  then,  shall  the  second  who  gives  the 
word  say,  “ Fire,  one,  two,  three,  stop  ” 


5 


34 


5.  The  parties  are  not  to  wheel  until  the  word  fire  has  been 
given. 

6.  Either  principal  firing  before  the  word  “ fire”  or  after  the 
word  “ stop”  shall  instantly  be  shot  down  by  the  second  of  his 
adversary. 

7.  After  both  parties  have  answered  “ ready”  there  shall  be  a 
considerable  pause  before  the  word  fire  is  given,  to  prevent  the 
parties  firing  before  the  time. 

8.  The  second  giving  the  word  shall,  before  the  parties  take 
their  respective  places,  fully  explain  the  manner  and  time  in 
which  he  intends  to  give  the  word. 

(Signed)  JOSEPH  ALSTON, 

HARRISON  GRAY  OTIS,  Jr. 

14/4  April , 1844. 

Struck  with  surprise  at  the  uncommon  mode  of  warfare  pro- 
posed  in  art.  1,  the  abstract  question  with  regard  to  the  pro- 
priety of  wheeling , in  duelling,  ivithout  rejerence  to  case  or 
parties , was  submitted  to  four  gentlemen  of  the  highest  character 
then  present  in  Washington,  whose  opinion  would  be  decisive  in 
any  court  of  honor.  Unanimously  and  without  hesitation  they 
pronounced  it  unusual,  and  that  any  second  would  be  justifiable  in 
withdrawing,  at  once  his  principal,  if  such  an  arrangement  were 
persisted  in.  But  our  objections  were  more  strenuous  in  the  case 
in  point,  because  this  method  was  rendered  more  unjustifiable  and 
unequal,  by  an  unfortunate  physical  disability  in  our  principal. 
The  following  letter  upon  the  subject  was  addressed,  on  the  14th 
inst.,  by  Dr.  McClellan  ta  Mr.  Otis. 

Dr.  McClellan’s  letter  to  Mr.  Otis. 

To  H.  G.  Otis,  Jr.,  Esq. — My  Dear  Sir: — The  swelling  and 
inflammation  in  Mr.  Schott’s  right  foot  is  decidedly  worse  this 
morning.  It  is  situated  deeply  in  the  anterior  and  central  portion 
of  the  sole  of  the  foot,  and  is  so  tender  and  painful  that  it  will 


I 


35 


incommode  him  even  in  a standing  position,  and  prove  quite  pain- 
ful in  attempting  to  wheel  or  walk. 

Yours  very  truly, 

(Signed)  GEO.  McCLELLAN. 

Sunday  morning , April  14,  1844. 

Mr.  Otis  at  once  enclosed  the  above  in  the  following  to  Mr. 
Alston,  considering  that  a mere  statement  of  the  facts  would  be 
sufficient  to  procure  an  arrangement  that  would  place  both  parties 
upon  an  equality. 

Mr.  Otis’  letter  to  Mr.  Alston , enclosing  Dr.  McClellan’s 

certificate. 

Joseph  Alston,  Esq. — My  Dear  Sir  : — I send  you  the  en- 
closed certificate  from  Dr.  McClellan,  and  submit  it  to  your  con- 
sideration. You  will  readily  perceive  that  it  refers  to  article  first, 
and  that  from  the  statements  in  his  letter,  it  will  be  impossible 
for  Mr.  Schott  to  wheel  with  any  advantage. 

(Signed)  HARRISON  GRAY  OTIS,  Jr. 

April  14,  1844. 

But  the  chivalry  and  generosity  of  feeling  so  much  relied  upon 
proved  to  have  been  entirely  gratuitous  ; even  when  I proposed  a 
reference  to  a court  of  honor,  it  was  refused,  and  a proposition 
made  at  Mr.  Schott’s  request,  to  place  the  parties  face  to  face,  from 
one  to  six  paces  apart,  was  immediately  declined.  The  follow- 
ing is 


Mr.  Alston’s  reply. 

April  14,  1844. 

Dear  Sir : — In  reply  to  your  note  of  this  afternoon,  I have  only 
to  say  that  I regret  that  Mr.  Schott  declines  complying  with  one 
of  the  terms , (article  1st,)  which  as  the  friend  of  the  challenged 
party,  / have  a right  to  claim.  They  are  neither  unusual  nor  un- 


36 


just,  nor  do  1 feel  myself  authorised  in  consenting  to  any  change, 
I shall,  therefore,  have  my  friend  on  the  ground,  at  five  o’clock 
to-morrow  morning,  and  at  that  hour  shall  await  you  at  the  tavern 
in  Bladensburg,  to  conduct  you  and  your  principal  to  the  place  I 
have  chosen.  If  this  arrangement  be  not  accepted  on  the  part  of 
Mr.  Schott,  I have  only  to  say  that  this  letter,  so  far  as  I am  con- 
cerned, closes  our  correspondence  on  this  subject. 

I am,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

(Signed)  JOSEPH  ALSTON. 

Finding,  notwithstanding  the  remonstrances  of  his  friends  that 
Mr.  Schott,  regardless  of  any  inequality,  persisted  in  meeting 
Mr.  Butler,  even  on  his  own  terms,  Mr.  Otis  closed  the  corres- 
pondence with  the  annexed  letter:— 

Mr.  Otis’  reply  to  Mr.  Alston’s  letter. 

April  14,  1844. 

Dear  Sir: — In  reply  to  your  note  handed  to  me  a few  moments 
since,  I will  observe  that  no  objection  was  taken  to  any  of  the 
terms  proposed  upon  which  Mr.  Schott  and  Mr.  Butler  were  to 
meet,  except  that  one  which  required  the  parties  to  stand  back  to 
back,  and  wheel,  and  fire ; and  this  objection  was  made,  because 
Mr.  Schott’s  foot  is  in  such  a condition  as  to  render  it  impractica- 
ble for  him  to  fight  in  that  mode  without  great  disadvantage,  and 
giving  his  adversary  an  unusual  and  unequal  advantage  over  him. 
Notwithstanding,  it  is  believed  that  according  to  the  etiquette  and 
rules  governing  affairs  of  honor  Mr.  Schott  would  be  justified  in 
declining  to  meet  Mr.  Butler  under  his  present  physical  infirmity, 
and  that  I consider  it  disadvantageous  to  insist  upon  such  unequal 
terms,  Mr.  Schott  will  meet  Mr.  Butler  at  the  time  and  place, 
and  upon  the  terms  prescribed. 

(Signed)  HARRISON  GRAY  OTIS,  Jr, 

Joseph  Alston,  Esq. 


37 


An  unusual  delay,  which  we  had  no  part  in  causing,  occurred 
upon  the  ground;  and  after  the  parties  were  finally  placed,  Mr, 
Otis  read  the  following  protest : 

Protest  read  by  Mr.  Otis  on  the  field. 

“ I feel  obliged,  gentlemen,  though  I have  consented,  in  the 
name  of  my  principal,  that  this  rencontre  shall  take  place,  to  state 
that  I consider  his  lameness  as  disabling  him  from  wheeling,  and 
rendering  it  unequal.  I refer  to  the  medical  attendants  present, 
if  it  is  not  a case  in  point.  I owe  this  statement  in  justice  to 
myself  and  Dr.  McClellan.” 

This,  however,  passed  unheeded,  and  the  word  of  command 
fell  to  Mr.  Otis.  A shot  was  exchanged  without  effect.  After 
another  delay,  preparations  were  completed  for  a second  exchange. 
Mr.  Schott,  on  account  of  his  utter  disability  to  wheel,  or  even  to 
support  himself  upon  his  right  foot,  lost  his  fire,  and  received 
with  front  presented,  the  full  and  deliberate  aim  of  his  adversary. 

Determined  that  a contest,  under  circumstances  so  unequal  and 
unfair,  should  no  longer  continue,  his  second,  friend  and  surgeon, 
insisted,  notwithstanding  Mr.  Schott’s  remonstrance,  on  with- 
drawing him  from  the  field. 

HARRISON  GRAY  OTIS,  Jr. 

Mr.  Smith’s  letter  to  Mr.  Otis. 

Baltimore,  Jlpril  17 th,  1844. 

At  the  request  of  James  Schott,  Jr.,  I accompanied  him  to  the 
field  as  a witness  on  the  15th  inst.  I performed  this  duty  with 
the  utmost  reluctance,  from  a solemn  conviction  that  the  fight 
would  not  be  fair  and  equal,  owing  to  the  diseased  condition  of 
Mr.  Schott’s  foot,  as  described  in  Dr.  McClellan’s  certificate  to 
Mr.  Otis.  After  the  second  shot,  it  became  so  manifest  to  me 
that  Mr.  Schott  could  not  wheel  as  required  that  I felt  it  due  to 
my  own  character,  to  interfere  and  protest  against  the  continu- 


38 


ance  of  the  duel,  notwithstanding  his  entreaties  to  the  contrary, 
Mr.  Schott’s  deportment  throughout  the  whole  proceeding  was 
calm,  dignified,  and  collected  ; nor  did  he  manifest  any  excite- 
ment till  the  interference  of  his  friends  called  it  forth.  It  may  not 
be  amiss  to  state,  that  on  Mr.  Schott’s  return  to  Baltimore,  he 
called  in  Dr.  Gibson,  the  surgeon  of  the  other  party,  for  his  advice, 
who  stated,  in  my  presence,  that  his  foot  was  much  inflamed,  and 
very  sensitive  to  the  touch,  and  he  recommended  a continuance 
of  the  application  that  had  been  suggested  by  Dr.  McClellan. 

(Signed)  S.  W.  SMITH. 

This  statement,  which  was  drawn  from  Mr.  Otis  by  various 
false  and  slanderous  reports  to  which  malicious  persons  endea- 
vored to  give  currency,  was  the  occasion  of  a reply  from  Mr. 
Alston,  which  appeared  in  the  papers. 

Georgetown,  South  Carolina, 

Jlpril  30,  1844. 

A newspaper,  containing  Mr.  Otis’  statement  of  the  circum- 
stances connected  with  the  recent  duel  between  Pierce  Butler, 
Esq.,  and  James  Schott,  Jr.,  Esq.,  has  just  been  placed  in  my 
hands.  In  justice  to  my  principal  and  to  myself,  I feel  called 
upon  to  make  such  comments  on  his  narrative  as  shall  have  the 
effect  of  removing  erroneous  impressions  that  may  have  been 
occasioned  by  it. 

Mr.  Otis  appears  to  consider  it  singular  that  the  meeting  was 
deferred  by  the  challenged  party  for  eight  days  afer  the  message 
passed.  The  challenge  was  handed  to  me  on  Monday,  the  Sth 
April;  on  Tuesday  morning,  Mr.  Butler  and  myself  left  Phila- 
delphia, and  reached  Washington  at  11  o’clock  on  Wednesday. 
The  intervening  four  days  were  not  more  than  sufficient  to  allow 
my  friend  to  make  the  requisite  arrangement  of  his  affairs  before 
engaging  in  a serious  contest,  and  to  enable  me  to  obtain  the 
attendance  of  a surgeon,  as  well  as  to  procure  the  services  of 


* 


39 


another  friend,  as  had  been  agreed  upon,  as  witness  ot  the  duel. 

I certainly  was  not  aware  that  any  great  haste  was  either  expect- 
or  required  on  my  part,  as  the  other  party  had  exhibited  no 
extraordinary  impatience  in  demanding  satisfaction,  but  had  per- 
mitted a whole  month  to  pass,  after  receiving  the  alleged  injury, 
before  even  sending  the  challenge.  Mr,  Otis  considers  the  op- 
portunity offered  for  preparation  and  practice,  during  the  short 
period  after  our  arrival  in  Washington,  which  intervened 
before  the  duel,  as  likely  to  have  given  Mr.  Butler  greatly 
the  advantage  ; but  while  he  reproaches  us  with  an  advantage  in 
the  delay  of  four  days,  he  totally  forgets  the  four  weeks  of  prepa- 
ration which  Mr.  Schott  indulged  himself  in  before  sending  the 
hostile  message  ; and  Mr.  Otis  expresses  great  surprise  at  my 
proposition  to  place  the  parties  back  to  back,  which  would  require 
them  to  wheel  and  fire  ; he  pronounces  it  “ a very  uncommon 
mode  of  warfare and  to  strengthen  his  impression,  he  cites  the 
opinion  of  four  unnamed  gentlemen,  which,  he  is  satisfied,  would 
be  regarded  as  decisive  in  any  court  of  honor.  With  all  due 
deference  to  such  high  authority,  I think  differently  ; and  my 
own  conviction  on  the  subject  was  confirmed  by  the  replies  of  all 
the  friends  of  whom  I made  the  inquiry  ; and  I submit  the  ques- 
tion, without  hesitation,  to  the  decision  of  that  portion  of  the 
community,  which  professes  to  have  any  acquaintance  with  the 
etiquette  and  customs  which  regulate  duels,  whether,  upon  the 
plea  of  its  being  unusual  for  the  second  of  the  challenged  party 
to  require  the  combatants  to  wheel  and  fire,  the  second  of  the 
challenger  would  be  considered  justifiable  in  withdrawing  him 
from  the  contest. 

Mr.  Otis  further  observes  that  his  objections  on  this  point  were 
more  strenuous  “ because  of  an  unfortunate  physical  disability  in 
his  principal.”  Now  let  it  be  remembered  that  on  the  Saturday 
evening  when  the  terms  of  meeting  were  submitted  to  him  he 
exhibited  surprise,  and  as  I think  dissatisfaction,  with  the  first 
article  ; but  nothing  was  then  said  of  any  physical  disability  on 


40 


Mr.  Schott’s  part.  I attributed  his  reluctance  to  accede  to  it,  to 
a feeling  of  disappointment  on  finding  that  the  parties  would  be 
required  to  fight  in  a manner  a little  varied  from  that  in  which 
his  friend  had  probably  become  a proficient  by  the  previous 
month’s  practice.  On  Sunday,  about  1 2 o’clock,  a doctor’s  note, 
relating  “ to  the  anterior  and  central  portion  of  the  sole  of  the 
right  foot,”  was  laid  before  me ; this,  I must  confess,  did  not 
produce  the  anticipated  effect  in  inducing  me  to  consent  to  the 
proposed  change  in  the  position  of  the  parties.  To  wheel  and 
fire  is  so  simple  and  easy  a movement,  that  any  one  who  can 
stand  up  may  perform  it  without  the  least  difficulty  ; it  requires 
only  that  the  right  foot  should  be  moved  lightly  behind  the  left, 
being  in  fact  nothing  more  than  a half  wheel,  and  performed  by 
any  one,  with  the  greatest  facility,  in  less  than  five  minutes 
practice  : those  who  doubt,  have  but  to  make  the  experiment, 
and  they  will  soon  be  convinced  that  I am  right.  I must  also 
observe  that,  after  his  arrival  on  the  ground,  Mr.  Schott  conti- 
nued to  stand  for  some  minutes,  and,  as  I thought,  without  any 
apparent  inconvenience  to  himself,  although  one  of  our  carriage 
cushions  was  twice  offered  to  him  as  a seat,  but  declined. 

Mr.  Otis  proceeds  to  complain  of  a want  of  “ chivalry  and 
generosity”  in  my  not  consenting  to  place  Mr.  Butler  in  such  a 
manner  as,  in  his  opinion,  Mr.  Schott’s  convenience  required. 
Now,  according  to  my  ideas  on  the  subject,  enough  of  chiv- 
alry and  generosity  had  been  exhibited  by  my  friend  when  he 
insisted  on  my  accepting,  in  his  behalf,  a challenge  from  a man 
whom  he  had  never  in  any  way  wronged  or  insulted.  As  the 
challenged  party,  he  had  certain  rights  sanctioned  by  custom, 
of  which  I was  determined  he  should  not  be  deprived  ; and,  as 
his  second,  I had  assumed  duties  from  the  faithful  performance  of 
which  I was  resolved  nothing  should  make  me  swerve.  It 
seems  also  a matter  of  astonishment  to  Mr.  Otis,  that  I would  not 
refer  article  first,  to  the  decision  of  umpires  ; now  / do  really 
think  it  would  have  been  extreme  folly  and  weakness  on  my  part 


I 


41 


to  have  consented  to  submit  as  a question  to  be  decided  by  others, 
that  which  I regarded  as  a right  already  settled  in  my  favor. 

He  next  adverts  to  what  he  now  calls  a proposition  of  Mr. 
Schott,  to  place  the  parties  face  to  face  at  the  distance  of  from 
one  to  six  paces.  When  this  was  first  suggested,  I took  no 
notice  of  it,  as  I did  not  think  it  required  a reply ; upon  its  being 
again  mentioned,  I remarked  to  him,  that  his  objections  to  my 
terms  must  first  be  admitted  before  I should  hold  myself  at  liber- 
ty to  think  of  any  change,  and  it  would  then  be  my  right  to 
make  new  propositions. 

Again,  he  animadverts,  with  what  object  I cannot  perceive,  on 
what  he  considers  an  unusual  delay  on  the  ground.  My  reply 
is,  that  from  the  moment  of  our  arrival  there,  we  both  were 
actively  engaged  in  making  the  necessary  preparations  ; namely, 
in  selecting  two  equal  and  suitable  positions  for  the  parties,  in 
measuring  the  distance,  loading  the  pistols,  reading  the  articles  of 
combat,  and  explaining  to  the  principals  the  mode  in  which  the 
word  would  be  given.  After  the  first  fire,  I commenced  reload- 
ing, as  soon  as  Mr.  Otis  apprised  me  that  his  friend  wished  to  go 
on.  Mr.  Otis  next  remarks,  that  Mr.  Schott  lost  his  second  fire 
by  his  utter  disability  to  wheel  ; this  may  be  his  opinion  ; it  is 
certainly  not  mine.  If  his  pistol  went  off  before  he  intended  it 
should,  it  was  his  own  fault.  “ Mr.  Schott  then  received,”  as 
Mr.  Otis  informs  us,  “ with  full  front  presented,  the  fire  of  his 
adversary  of  course  he  must  have  wheeled  before  Mr.  Butler 
fired,  to  have  done  so. 

I consider  the  protest  read  on  the  ground  by  Mr.  Otis,  after 
the  principals  had  taken  their  places,  and  at  the  moment  the 
word  was  about  to  be  given,  as  both  ill-timed  and  uncalled  for; 
and  certainly  it  was  not  entitled  to  the  least  consideration  from 
me.  The  extraordinay  course  of  protesting  against  a proceeding 
which,  as  Mr.  Schott’s  friend,  he  had  it  in  his  power  to  control, 
and  to  offer  a protest  against  his  own  act,  involve  an  inconsistency 
which  must  be  palpable  to  every  unprejudiced  mind.  If  he  con- 
6 


42 


sidered  my  refusal  to  yield  to  a change  in  article  first  so  unjust, 
why  did  he  not  withdraw  his  principal  at  once,  as  he  took  the 
responsibility  of  doing  so  after  the  second  fire.  We  were  willing 
to  go  on  as  long  as  we  should  have  been  required  so  to  do  by  the 
other  party,  and  I think  the  result  of  the  duel  offers  pretty  strong 
evidence  that  the  arrangements  made  by  me  placed  the  parties  as 
nearly  as  possible,  under  all  circumstances,  upon  a footing  of 
equality. 

In  conclusion,  I take  occasion  to  say  that,  in  all  the  proceed- 
ings and  arrangements  which  have  any  relation  to  this  duel,  I 
acted  solely  on  my  own  responsibility  ; I allowed  Mr.  Butler  no 
voice  in  the  matter  ; in  my  whole  course  I was  governed  by  a 
stern  sense  of  duty  and  fairness  to  all  concerned,  and  never  in 
any  way  sought  to  obtain  an  undue  advantage  for  my  principal. 
These  observations  on  Mr.  Otis’  statement  should  have  been  fur- 
nished immediately  after  its  appearance,  but  I left  Baltimore  for 
South  Carolina  on  the  day  after  the  duel,  of  which  intended 
movement  I informed  Mr.  Otis  the  night  previous  to  the  meeting. 

I confess  I should  have  been  better  pleased,  had  he  offered  to 
unite  with  me  in  preparing  a joint  statement  to  be  signed  by 
both  of  us. 

JOSEPH  ALSTON. 

As  in  this  statement  of  Mr.  Alston’s,  he  presumed  to  favor  the 
public  with  an  opinion  of  his  owTn,in  regard  to  the  cause  of  quar- 
rel between  his  friend  and  myself,  which  was  injurious  to  me,  I 
felt  myself  called  upon  to  notice  it  by  a card  ; which  was  the  first 
and  only  occasion  in  which  I departed  from  the  rule  my  feelings 
prompted  me  to  adopt,  of  avoiding  any  movement  which  would 
place  me  in  the  attitude  of  publicly  charging,  although  only  by 
implication  or  indirection,  any  thing  against  Mrs.  S.  But  a pub- 
lic assertion  like  that,  made  by  an  authorised  friend  of  Mr.  B., 
required  an  answer  as  public  and  as  authoritative. 


4 


43 

Baltimore,  May  16  th,  1844. 

My  attention  has  been  called  to  a newspaper  communication 
of  the  13th  inst.,  over  the  signature  of  Mr.  Joseph  Alston,  in 
reply  to  a statement  made  by  my  friend,  Mr.  H.  G.  Otis,  Jr.,  ex- 
planatory of  the  circumstances  attending  a late  affair  of  honor  in 
which  I was  involved. 

I feel  great  reluctance  in  appearing  before  the  public  to  notice 
Mr.  Alston’s  statement,  (which  will  be  found,  for  the  most  part, 
sufficiently  answered  in  Mr.  Otis’  original  paper,)  but  it  contains 
two  objectionable  passages,  which  demand  a reply.  The  first 
asserts  that  I a exhibited  no  extraordinary  impatience  in  demand- 
ing satisfaction,  but  permitted  a whole  month  to  pass,  after  re- 
ceiving the  alleged  injury,  before  even  sending  the  challenge.” 
If  Mr.  Alston  will  examine  the  invitation  handed  him  by  Mr. 
Otis,  he  will  find  it  based  upon  the  following  note,  addressed  to 
his  principal  in  New  York,  within  thirty-six  hours  (Sunday  in- 
tervening) after  the  injury  received  : 

Sir  : — I scarcely  deem  it  necessary  to  say  to  you,  that  on  our 
return  to  Philadelphia  all  intercourse  between  us  must  cease,  and 
that  your  visits  to  my  family  must  be  discontinued.  I trust  that 
the  time  may  yet  come,  when  I shall  be  able,  without  compro- 
mising others,  to  vindicate  my  own  honor. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

JAMES  SCHOTT,  Jr. 

Hstor  House,  March  11  th,  1844. 

Pierce  Butler,  Esq. 

Mr.  Alston  was  expressly  informed  by  Mr.  Otis,  that  the  sub- 
sequent delay  was  caused  by  circumstances  over  which  I had  no 
control. 

The  second  passage,  in  which  Mr.  Alston  speaks  of  the  chiv- 
alry of  his  friend,  in  insisting  on  his  accepting,  on  that  friend’s 
behalf,  “ a challenge  from  a man  whom  he  had  never  in  any  way 


44 


wronged  or  insulted,”  is  the  more  objectionable,  as  Mr.  A.  pre- 
sumes in  it  publickly  and  gratuitously  to  express  an  opinion  on 
the  merits  of  the  cause  of  quarrel  between  his  principal  and  my- 
self,— a matter  in  which  he  could  have  no  personal  knowledge. 
All  his  information  on  this  subject  could  be  derived  only  from 
his  principal.  Mr.  Butler,  in  stating  that  he  had  44  never  wronged 
or  insulted”  me,  imposed  upon  the  credulity  of  his  friend  by  an 
assertion  which  had  no  foundation  in  truth,  and  wnich  I now 
pronounce  to  be  false.  The  presence  of  gentlemen  of  the  highest 
character,  as  witnesses  on  the  field,  renders  needless  any  further 
notice  of  Mr.  Alston’s  remarks. 

Perhaps  I owe  an  apology  to  the  public,  upon  whose  attention 
I should  not  thus  have  obtruded,  had  not  justice  to  myself  re- 
quired it.  I shall  not,  hereafter,  notice  any  communication  in 
relation  to  this  matter,  made  through  the  medium  of  the  press. 

JAMES  SCHOTT,  Jr. 

This  paper  concludes  the  history  of  the  affair  with  Mr.  Butler, 
of  which  I do  not  hesitate  to  make  two  remarks : first,  that  in 
keeping  me, — from  Sunday,  the  day  when  he,  through  his  friend, 
designated  the  weapons,  till  Saturday  evening,  when  the  arrange- 
ments were  completed, — ignorant  of  his  intention  to  fight  by 
wheeling,' he  took  a dishonorable  advantage  of  me,  as  retaining 
to  himself  an  opportunity  to  practice  that  mode  of  fighting,  from 
which  I was  debarred  ; and  secondly,  that  in  insisting,  through 
his  second,  upon  the  field,  that  I should  be  compelled  to  fight  in 
that  way,  when  medical  testimony  then  present, — his  own  sur- 
geon as  well  as  mine, — and  my  own  appearance,  must  have 
convinced  him  of  my  physical  inability  to  do  so, — unless  at 
the  greatest  disadvantage, — his  motives  were  still  meaner , be- 
cause cowardly  and  murderous. 

As  soon  after  the  meeting  with  Mr.  Butler  as  the  condition  of 
my  foot  would  allow  me  to  travel,  I went  to  New  Castle,  to  seek 
legal  advice  of  Mr.  Clayton  as  to  the  steps  proper  to  be  pursued 


4 


45 


by  me  in  relation  to  two  objects  which  I had  very  much  at  heart, 
— first,  to  make  answer  to  the  charges  brought  against  me  by 
Mrs.  S.  in  her  affidavit ; and  secondly,  to  obtain  a divorce.  I 
was  well  aware  that  my  absence  from  Philadelphia  gave  opportu- 
nity to  a thousand  slanderous  accusations,  which  my  enemies 
busily  circulated  against  me,  and  that  my  silence  under  the  affi- 
davit was  quoted  as  a proof  of  the  truth  of  all  its  statements  ; and 
I desired  to  go  to  Philadelphia  to  put  in  a counter-affidavit,  or 
take  any  other  proper  legal  step,  to  disprove  the  charges,  and 
confound  those  who  labored  so  industriously  to  crush  me.  I 
learned  from  Mr.  C.,  to  my  mortification,  that  I could  not  pursue 
both  these  objects  together,  without  danger  of  foiling  myself  in 
the  one  which  my  feelings  and  interests  represented  as  the  most 
important, — that  is,  the  divorce.  I learned  that  Mrs.  S.  herself, 
had  instituted,  or  was  on  the  eve  of  instituting,  proceedings  to 
obtain  a divorce  ; grounding  her  application  upon  the  alleged  ill- 
treatment,  as  charged  against  me  in  her  affidavit.  It  was  his  opi- 
nion, that  her  application,  grounded  upon  these  charges,  could  not 
be  granted,  if  I should  appear  and  disprove  any  of  them ; and 
that  by  appearing  and  disproving  them,  I should  array  myself  in 
an  attitude  of  actual  opposition  to  the  divorce  which  I most  ar- 
dently desired  to  obtain  ; and  thereby  defeat  it.  He  counselled 
me,  therefore,  not  to  go  to  Philadelphia, — not  to  appear  in  answer 
to  the  affidavit  or  the  application  for  divorce,  but  to  suffer  it  to 
go — and  thus,  in  fact,  obtain  it — by  default.  He  fortified  this 
advice  by  representing,  what  my  own  feelings  deeply  responded 
to,  the  necessity  of  maintaining  the  rule  of  delicacy  which  I had, 
up  to  the  present  moment,  religiously  observed  ; since  it  was  im- 
possible for  me  appear  in  court  in  any  character  whatever,  with- 
out making  disclosures  which  must  harrow  the  feelings  of  friends, 
and  give  notoriety  to  circumstances  which  it  was  my  own  wish, 
if  possible,  to  cover  up  in  darkness.  The  following  are  his  writ- 
ten letters  of  advice  : 


46 


Sir  : 


New  Castle,  Delaware, 

April  19  thy  1844. 


Having  attentively  considered  the  circumstances  of  your  case, 
as  you  have  reported  them  to  me,  and  as  they  appear  from  the 
various  documents  presented,  I submit  the  following  as  my  opin- 
ion and  legal  advice  as  to  the  best  course  which  you  can  pursue. 

The  whole  case,  I need  not  say,  is  one  peculiarly  delicate  ; and 
the  attempt  to  carry  it  into  the  courts,  in  any  form,  could  not  but 
prove  distressing  to  the  feelings  of  yourself,  your  friends  and  of 
numerous  innocent  persons.  You  cannot  meet  the  affidavit,  nor 
enter  a counter  affidavit,  nor,  indeed,  take  any  legal  steps  whatever^ 
without  giving  publicity  to  circumstances  which  it  were  desira- 
ble might  be  buried  in  the  deepest  oblivion,  and  from  which,  I 
think,  as  a man  of  feeling,  you  would  desire  to  avert  the  public 
gaze.  I cannot,  indeed,  counsel  you  to  take  any  such  steps.  A 
passive  and  silent  course  on  your  part  will  be  the  most  dignified, 
and  the  proper  one  : and  this,  sir,  is  the  course  which  I recom- 
mend you  to  pursue.  There  are  some  situations  in  this  world  in 
which  it  becomes  a man  to  suffer  in  silence,  out  of  regard  to  the 
feelings  of  others.  Those  of  your  honored  parents  and  of  the 
highly  respectable  family  with  which  you  have  been  connected 
by  marriage,  merit  a sacrifice  of  self ; and,  however  painful  that 
sacrifice  may  be,  a generous  spirit  should  yield  it  without  a mur- 
mur. If  you  return  to  Philadelphia  in  your  present  state  of  dis- 
turbed and  exasperated  feeling,  in  the  midst  of  the  rumors  and 
foolish  reports  growing  out  of  your  late  meeting  with  Mr.  Butler 
at  Bladensburg,  no  good  can  come  of  it  that  I can  foresee;  while 
I can  easily  anticipate  evils, — among  the  many  who  have  partici- 
pated on  the  one  side  or  the  other,  in  the  existing  excitement,— 
which  ordinary  prudence  could  not  be  expected  to  avert.  I 
advise  you  not  to  go  back  to  Philadelphia.  If  you  return  to  that 
city  and  resist  the  legal  application,  said  to  be  contemplated  by 
the  opposite  party,  for  a divorce,  it  is  my  opinion,  from  the  evi- 


47 


dence  before  me,  that  it  cannot  be  obtained.  It  is  not  worth 
while  to  go  to  Philadelphia  merely  to  be  bound  over  to  keep  the 
peace.  There  is  no  indictment  there  for  you  to  meet ; nor  is 
there  any  reason  to  believe  that  the  folly  or  passion  of  any  one 
could  institute  any  proceeding  of  a criminal  character,  requiring 
you  to  attend  there.  In  regard  to  the  supposed  intention  to  apply 
for  a divorce,  I advise  you  to  suffer  others  to  adopt  such  further 
course  as  they  may  deem  necessary ; to  make  no  opposition  ; and 
even  facilitate,  so  far  as  it  may  be  in  your  power,  such  efforts  as 
may  be  made  towards  effecting  that  final  legal  separation,  which 
would  seem  to  be  the  most  desirable  close  of  circumstances  so 
untoward  and  unhappy. 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  M.  CLAYTON. 

James  Schott,  Jr.,  Esq. 

P.  S.  I omitted  to  say,  in  reply  to  your  request  on  the  subject, 
that  if  my  professional  aid  should  at  any  time  be  required  by  you, 
in  consequence  of  action  which  I do  not  anticipate,  it  shall  be  at 
your  service.  J.  M.  C. 

New  Castle,  Delaware, 

May  30 th,  1844. 

My  Dear  Sir, 

I have  resolved  on  my  course  as  your  counsel  in  the  Divorce 
case,  after  full  and  deliberate  consideration.  I intend  to  let  the 
decree  go  by  default, — first,  because  by  that  means  we  adopt  the 
course  best  calculated  to  facilitate  the  application  and  proceedings 
for  the  divorce — which  divorce  is  of  all  things  most  essential  to 
your  future  happiness ; secondly,  because  by  thus  not  becoming 
a party  to  the  suit,  we  are  not  under  any  implied  obligation,  hon- 
orary or  otherwise,  to  repel  or  disprove  any  accusations  which 
lie  at  the  foundation  of  the  whole  proceeding.  Your  defence 
against  these  accusations  cannot  be  made  in  this  suit,  without  aban- 


48 


doning  all  hope  of  separating  yourself  from  Mrs.  Schott.  When 
the  decree  is  finally  entered,  you  can  set  yourself  right  with  your 
friends  and  the  whole  world  if  you  choose.  The  decree  will  be 
had  in  the  shortest  possible  time — but  I am  yet  unable  to  fix  the 
time  with  any  precision. 

Faithfully  your  friend, 

JOHN  M.  CLAYTON. 

Mr.  James  Schott,  Jr. 

These  letters  of  advice  I adopted  as  my  rule  of  action.  I did 
not  go  to  Philadelphia, — I did  not  appear  in  court  to  answer 
either  the  affidavit  or  the  application  for  divorce.  I instructed 
my  counsel  to  give  every  possible  facility  in  his  power  to  the 
speedy  obtaining  of  the  divorce ; and  I have  reason  to  believe 
that  he  did  so.  The  consequence  of  this  was  that  the  divorce 
was  obtained, — obtained  on  the  ex  parte  testimony  of  one  ivit- 
ness, — without  any  cross-examination  on  my  part,  and  without 
the  slightest  knowledge  of  mine,  up  to  this  moment,  what  the 
testimony  is.  I have  heard,  indeed,  from  a friend,  a statement 
that  the  testimony  was  of  such  a character  as  could  have  been 
easily  contradicted,  if  I had  been  at  liberty  to  do  so.  The  con- 
sequence, I repeat,  of  this  action  on  my  part,  was  that  the 
divorce,  to  my  inexpressible  satisfaction,  was  granted. 

Ever  since  Gen.  McNeill’s  letter  of  March  the  30th  was  copied , 
I have  been  the  victim  of  innumerable  calumnies.  Letters  have 
been  written,  statements  made,  and  copies  of  that  monstrous  affi- 
davit circulated  in  every  city,  and  sent  to  every  place  where  I 
had  an  acquaintance  or  friend.  Even  after  I had,  under  the  ad- 
vice of  my  counsel,  retired  to  another  city,  with  a view  to 
deprive  the  slanderers  of  my  reputation  of  any  further  pretext  for 
persecuting  me,  while  suffering  in  silence  under  all  the  former 
calumnies  which  had  been  heaped  upon  me, — nay,  even  after  the 
divorce  itself  had  been  obtained,  unceasing  efforts  have  been  still 
continued  to  misrepresent,  to  revile,  to  calumniate,  to  destroy 


49 


me.  But  I am  now  free  ; and,  although  I still  have  no  desire 
to  say  one  word  more  in  explanation  of  the  unhappy  circum- 
stances connected  with  the  occurrence  of  March,  and  would 
rather  suffer  in  the  esteem  of  those  who  do  not  know  me  than 
contribute  to  the  further  exposure  of  those  who  have  wronged 
me  and  sought  to  crush  me  forever — I am  free,  whenever  I may 
be  called  upon,  to  answer  to  any  charges  that  have  been,  or  that 
may  be,  made  by  any  person  whatever,  and  to  defend  myself 
from,  and,  if  need  be,  to  punish,  every  assault  upon  my  honor. 

But  I will  not  conclude  this  statement  without  proclaiming 
the  infamy  of  Pierce  Butler,  who,  under  the  mask  of  friendship, 
ruined  the  peace  and  happiness  of  an  unoffending  family,  and 
then  sought  to  escape  the  consequences  by  resorting  to  the 
meanest  artifices,  the  most  cowardly  subterfuges,  and  the  most 
despicable  falsehoods. 

JAMES  SCHOTT,  Jr. 

Eutaw  House, 

Baltimore , July  29,  1844. 


ERRATA. 


Page  8,  4th  line  of  Mr.  Goodwin’s  letter,  read  “ 1 most  sin- 
cerely,” instead  of  “ I most  seriously.” 

Page  6,  2nd  and  3d  lines,  read  “ BUT  I DO  NOT  ADVISE, 
YOU  CAN  BEST  JUDGE,”  instead  of  “ BUT  I DO  NOT 
ADVISE  YOU,  YOU  CAN  BEST  JUDGE.” 

Page  11,  14th  line  of  Gen.  McNeill’s  letter,  the  following  note 
should  have  been  inserted  after  the  word  u final 

I need  only  say  that  the  position  of  umpire  was  assumed  by 
Gen.  McNeill,  and  not  delegated  by  me  ; and  I have  reason  to 
believe  that  Dr.  McClellan  did  not  understand  that  he  was  to  act 
in  that  capacity.  It  is  clear  from  the  tenor  of  Mr.  Goodwin’s 
letter  that  he  did  not  consider  the  case  as  susceptible  of  adjust- 
ment, and  that  I entertained  the  same  opinion,  may  be  inferred 
from  the  fact,  that  after  I received  his  letter,  my  correspondence 
with  him  ceased.  I had  not  time  to  notice  this  unwarrantable 
assumption  of  Gen.  McNeill’s,  and  other  exceptionable  parts  of 
his  letter,  in  the  hurried  protest  which  1 made  before  our  depar- 
ture for  the  city. 


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